World’s Cement & Concrete Cos. Roadmap for Net-Zero Emissions By 2050

Forty leading international cement and concrete manufacturers have published a plan to eliminate carbon emissions from one of the world's most polluting industries. The commitment has been made by members of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). Together, they represent nearly 80 per cent of the industry outside China. Published ahead of next month's COP26 climate conference, the roadmap includes an intermediate pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25 per cent by 2030. This could prevent an estimated five billion tonnes of CO2 emissions. The roadmap is aligned with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and follows a similar roadmap published by the UK cement industry showing how it could achieve net-zero by 2050. The cement industry is responsible for seven per cent of the world's CO2 emissions. The roadmap sets out seven steps to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Substituting high-carbon clinker, which is the main ingredient in Portland cement, with lower-carbon materials will contribute to lowering the CO2 footprint of both cement and concrete, according to the roadmap. A commitment to significantly reducing fossil fuel use in manufacturing and increasing the use of alternative fuels will also contribute to lowering the CO2 footprint. The industry has committed to building 10 industrial-scale carbon capture plants by 2030, building on current pilots in North America, India, China and Europe. New chemical substitutes for clinker and concrete mix play an important role in the roadmap, with the plan to build on approaches that are already in the research or development phase. Investments in kiln technologies and more research will also be implemented. The GCCA will utilise its global research network, Innovandi, to advance the research. Additionally, a global innovation challenge that matches startups with GCCA member companies will take place. The GCCA will create a procurement framework that the industry can use during construction to improve efficiency in the design and use of concrete during construction. This will involve using recycled materials, extending the lifetime of projects and more efficient use of resources. The roadmap requires policymakers, governments and multilateral organisations to play their part in supporting a circular economy and the development of new technologies. GCCA members have committed to reaching this target without using offsets, and the organisation claims it can achieve net-zero emissions even if the global cement and concrete products market doubles as expected from $333 billion in 2020 to $645 billion in 2030.