Cement and CO2: what's happening

Concrete is the second most widely used commodity globally, with estimated production at over 15 billion tons per year. It is estimated that 3.6 billion tons of cement were produced in 2012 accounting for approximately 5% of the global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. The Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), along with the International Energy Agency (EIA) have developed a road map for CO₂ reductions in the cement industry. The IEA/CSI “blue map” calls for a reduction of approximately 50% in the specific CO₂ emissions per ton of cement by the year 2050. The blue map emphasizes continued progress in the three traditional levers for CO2 reduction, but also indicates that these three levers will only achieve half of the targeted reduction. Many cement companies are exploring additional ways to achieve CO₂ reductions. This paper reviews the progress to date and some of the many projects underway in the cement industry.