Editorial comment
At the time of writing, COP29 is just around the corner. Scheduled to take place later this month in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, attendees at this year’s COP will have to deal with the alarming reality that the world is simply not on track limit to global temperature rises to 1.5°C this century. Indeed, without significant (and urgent) effort, the UN Climate Change agency reports that the world will have no hope of ‘keeping 1.5 alive.’
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It’s not just a case of narrowly missing the target either: the UN estimates that even when combined, the currently stated emissions reduction plans from the world’s nations will amount to a paltry 2.6% reduction by 2030 (compared to 2019 levels). That figure needs to be 43% if we are to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This is a staggering contrast and – with just a little over 5 years left of this decade – the challenge ahead is significant.
It is with this challenge in mind that leaders will be heading to Baku, with the UN also expecting new, more stringent plans to be submitted by Spring next year. Each COP does seem to push the world a little further in the right direction, so it is to be hoped that this stark warning prompts leaders to agree on the breakthrough measures needed.
It is therefore good news that the cement industry (responsible for 7 – 8% of global CO2 emissions) is already making headway through the efforts of producers of all sizes. The Portland Cement Association (PCA), for example, recently reported that 2023 was the most energy-efficient year on record for the US cement industry, with alternative fuels and natural gas both making up record portions of overall fuel consumption (16% and 31% respectively). Additionally, half of all cement used in the US in 2023 was lower-carbon, blended cement, with a record share of 63% being reached according to the US Geological Survey. And, on a related note, all 50 US state departments of transportation have now approved the use of Portland limestone cement, which can reduce the carbon footprint of projects by as much as 10%. It is true that much more remains to be done, but these steps alone have avoided the production of 6 million t of CO2 since 2021.
There are simply too many decarbonisation projects going on across the cement industry for me to list them all here, but this issue’s Lead Feature includes an extensive report from A3&Co., which explores the current state of the global industry’s efforts (pg 10). It also includes our CCUS Q&A (pg 24), which showcases expert opinions from a range of leading voices in the field of carbon capture.
If you want to learn more about how your company can play a role in the decarbonisation process, make sure to join leading players from the cement industry in Athens on 9 – 12 March, 2025 for EnviroTech: The Gateway to Green Cement. This annual conference from World Cement brings together leading decarbonisation experts from across the industry to share insights and expertise.
Tickets are currently subject to a special early-bird rate. Book yours today: www.worldcement.com/envirotech2025