Technology Roadmap Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry

Roadmap partners

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1
Foreword
Awareness is growing of the urgent need to turn 
political statements and analytical findings into 
climate mitigation action that leads to a more 
sustainable future. We can and must change 
the path that we are on. Innovative low-carbon 
technologies will play a central role in this 
transition. 
Goal 13 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for 
Sustainable Development, adopted by world 
leaders in September 2015, calls for urgent action 
to combat climate change and its impact. The 
Paris Agreement, negotiated in December 2015 at 
the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties 
to the United Nations Framework Convention on 
Climate Change, attempts to limit the rise in global 
temperatures this century to less than 2°C above 
preindustrial levels.
To spark this movement and build on a long-
standing collaboration, the International Energy 
Agency (IEA) and the Cement Sustainability 
Initiative (CSI) of the World Business Council for 
Sustainable Development (WBCSD) have partnered 
to develop this update of the global 
Cement 
Technology Roadmap
that was produced jointly in 
2009 (the first industry-specific roadmap).
The cement industry currently represents about 7% 
of the carbon dioxide (CO
2
) emissions globally and is 
the third-largest industrial energy consumer. Cement 
companies in the CSI have been long taking action to 
reduce CO
2
and voluntarily reporting independently 
verified CO
2
and energy performance information 
(representing 21% of global cement production). The 
analysis for this roadmap is based on a compilation 
of performance data and information related to 
cement production from the best available data 
sources worldwide, a key source being the Getting 
the Numbers Right database managed by CSI, which 
is externally verified, as well as other sources.
The vision of this roadmap is based on an energy 
system pathway and a CO
2
emissions trajectory 
consistent with at least a 50% chance of limiting 
the average global temperature increase to 2°C by 
2100. In contribution to this effort, the roadmap 
uses a bottom-up approach to explore a possible 
transition pathway based on least-cost technology 
analysis for the cement industry to reduce its direct 
CO
2
emissions by 24% below current levels by 2050.
The outlined transition for such CO
2
emissions 
reductions in cement production is ambitious, 
and the changes must be practical, realistic and 
achievable. The transition of the cement industry 
can only be attained with a supportive regulatory 
framework and effective and sustained investments. 
The roadmap outlines these policy priorities 
and regulatory recommendations, assesses 
financial needs, discusses investment stimulating 
mechanisms and describes technical challenges 
with regard to research, development and 
demonstration needs and goals.
While this roadmap focuses on cement 
manufacturing, the IEA and CSI recognise the need to 
consider CO
2
emissions reduction over the overall life 
cycle of cement, concrete and the built environment 
by working collaboratively along the whole 
construction value chain. For instance, by optimising 
the use of concrete in construction or by maximising 
the design life of buildings and infrastructure, further 
CO
2
emissions savings can be realised.
This roadmap aims to contribute to the required 
international collaborative effort among 
stakeholders, and to be a source of inspiration for 
international and national policy makers to support 
evidence-based decisions and regulations in support 
to the sustainable transition of the cement industry. 
Dr. Fatih Birol
Executive Director
International Energy Agency
Philippe Fonta
Managing Director, Cement Sustainability Initiative
World Business Council for Sustainable Development