Cement industry commitment shows growing business momentum to deliver on the 1.5C target in the Paris Agreement

Responding to the Global Cement and Concrete Association’s commitment to to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by up to a quarter this decade and reach net zero by 2050, Nick Molho, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group said: “The global cement industry is responsible for around 8% of global CO2 emissions, so today’s net zero announcement from many of the world’s largest cement manufacturers – including Chinese companies – is significant. Coming from an industry that is energy intensive and complex to decarbonise, today’s commitment shows that there is growing momentum across the global business community to deliver on the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement.

“To put UK industries at the forefront of this global transition, the Government’s net zero strategy must grow the market for green cement through the introduction of product standards and public procurement criteria that mandate greater resource efficiency and lower embodied emissions. As cement plants often operate away from large industrial clusters, Government policy should also support cement plants to connect to the carbon capture and hydrogen infrastructure that will be developed in these clusters.”