<p>The alkali-activated cements (AACs) are considered a promising alternative to conventional Portland cement due to their potential for significantly reducing CO₂ emissions. The choice of activator type is crucial for improving AACs performance, particularly in minimizing CO₂ emissions and enhancing durability. This study examines the effect of one-part activators (Na₂SiO₃·5H₂O, Na₂SiO₃-anhydrous) and two-part activators (NaOH + Na₂SiO₃) on the mechanical and durability characteristics of alkali-activated slag concrete (AASC) exposed to sulfuric acid for 210&#xa0;days. The results indicate that the compressive strength of one-part AASC activated with Na₂SiO₃-anhydrous surpasses two-part AASC by 60% after 210&#xa0;days of acid exposure. The acid penetration depths for these mixtures are measured at 6.2&#xa0;mm and 8.1&#xa0;mm, respectively, while the corresponding reductions in sample dimensions are recorded as 6.7% and 9.4%. Based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, the formation of Bassanite and Millosevichite phases in the two-part mixture after exposure to the sulfuric acid environment indicates that it is more vulnerable than the one-part mixture. The Na₂SiO₃-anhydrous-activated AASC exhibited superior performance in acidic conditions and displayed a more homogeneous structure compared to the Na₂SiO₃·5H₂O-activated one-part AASC and the two-part AASC. A dimensionless index, i.e. Durability Index (DI), is proposed to evaluate the durability of AASCs in acidic environments. Additionally, an index for CO₂ emissions is introduced. The CO₂ emissions from the two-part AASC and the one-part AASC activated with Na₂SiO₃·5H₂O are approximately 9% and 28% higher, respectively, than those of the one-part AASC activated with Na₂SiO₂-anhydrous, highlighting its environmental superiority.</p>