The cement industry is taking significant steps towards reducing its carbon footprint by expanding the Green Cement Technology Tracker to monitor the production of calcined clays – a promising solution for decarbonization.
Concrete and cement are crucial in the construction of homes, offices, and infrastructure, but they also contribute to approximately 7% of global CO2 emissions. The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), with the support of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), has taken the lead in decarbonizing the sector with the launch of the Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap. This roadmap represents the industry’s first clear commitment and plan on decarbonization.
The Green Cement Technology Tracker, a tool initiated by GCCA and LeadIT, has expanded its scope from monitoring carbon capture projects to include the use of clay calcination kilns. Calcined clays, also known as metakaolin, offer a sustainable solution for cement production, requiring lower energy and reducing CO2 emissions.
Tracking the progress towards net-zero emissions is a crucial aspect of the Roadmap. By providing transparency and valuable data, the tracker aims to empower the industry, policymakers, academics, and the public in their efforts to reduce emissions from cement production.
Per Andersson, Head of the Secretariat at LeadIT, highlighted the importance of transparency in tracking investments in low-carbon cement production to support emission reductions. Claude Loréa, GCCA’s Cement, Innovation, and ESG Director, emphasized the value of incorporating calcined clay in sustainable construction.
According to the GCCA’s Roadmap, using calcined clays in cement production instead of limestone can potentially reduce emissions by 11%. Karen Scrivener, an expert on the use of calcined clays, sees the development of this eco-friendly alternative as an exciting opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions in cement production.
The expansion of the tracker’s scope now includes monitoring the development of two technologies – CCUS and calcined clays – that are helping cement plants to decarbonize. This aligns with the industry’s commitment to adopt new technologies and production methods for a sustainable future.
To ensure data relevance, regular updates from the Green Cement Technology Tracker engage stakeholders such as producers, researchers, policymakers, and investors. This collaborative effort aims to accelerate technology adoption and support global decarbonization in the cement industry.
The Green Cement Technology Tracker is a joint initiative by the Global Cement & Concrete Association and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, in collaboration with the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions. It plays a pivotal role in helping the cement industry meet its commitments and progress towards net-zero emissions.
LeadIT, launched by the prime ministers of Sweden and India, is instrumental in bringing together countries and companies committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions from industry by 2050. The LeadIT Secretariat, hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute, manages the work of the Leadership Group and is supported by the World Economic Forum.
For more information, visit the website of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition.
In conclusion, the expansion of the Green Cement Technology Tracker to monitor calcined clay kilns marks a significant step towards achieving decarbonization in the cement industry. This initiative, supported by industry leaders and experts, is a crucial tool in the global effort to reduce the carbon footprint of cement production and move towards a more sustainable future.
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