Net Zero Industry Tracker 2024 Cement

0.20.40.60.8 1 tCO2/t cement2050 BAU scenario 1.00 tCO2/t cement 2050 net- zero scenario 0.02 tCO2/t cement0.45 BAU Net zero2023 2050 20300.58 0.580.80 0Performance ReadinessCurrently, the cement industry accounts for approximately 6%351 of global CO2e emissions, primarily due to the energy-intensive process of clinker production. Fossil fuels account for over 95%352 of thermal energy use in the industry, making them a critical driver for emission intensity. The primary challenge for the cement industry is balancing the reduction of CO2 emissions with meeting rising global demand. Cement industry performance Emissions intensity trajectory for the cement sectorTABLE 12 FIGURE 47Performance metric Change (2019-2023) Industry output -3.4%353 Emission intensity (tCO2/t cement) ~0%354 Total CO2e emissions -4%355 Low-emission clinker production accounted for less than 1%356 of global production in 2022, while low-emission fuels comprised only 5%357 of the total thermal energy used in cement production. The energy mix remains heavily reliant on carbon- intensive sources, with 77% coming from coal and petroleum coke, 15% from natural gas and just 4% from both non-renewable and renewable waste.358 Additionally, the current infrastructure for critical decarbonization technologies such as CCUS, clean power and hydrogen sits at less than 1%359 of the capacity needed by 2050 to meet net-zero emissions targets. Key initiatives in the cement sector (including the adoption of circular-economy principles, enhancement of energy efficiency and exploration of alternative materials such as low-carbon clinker substitutes) are essential to achieving long- term emissions reductions. Innovations such as CCUS and the development of novel materials like geopolymer cement offer potential pathways to lower emissions. Companies like Holcim360 (a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions) are investing in companies like Sublime Systems (a leading low-carbon cement technology startup) to help scale up their low-carbon cement technology. Many cement companies are integrating CCUS technologies – for instance, projects like Norcem361 in Norway and CEMEX and Carbon Clean project362 aim to implement carbon capture at scale. Source: IEA Net Zero Scenario. Net-Zero Industry Tracker: 2024 Edition 4