European cement sector eyes net zero by 2050

The European cement sector is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 but cannot do so without EU policy support in a number of areas, regional industry association Cembureau said this week.

The European cement sector has set an objective of reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, Cembureau said in a roadmap published this week. It also aims to reduce emissions in the sector by 30pc by 2030 for cement and by 40pc down the value chain. The strategy involves all elements of the cement value chain: clinker, cement, concrete, construction and (re)carbonation.

The sector's previous goal was to cut GHG emissions by 80pc from 1990 levels by 2050, if carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology developed at a sufficient deployment rate, or by 32pc if CCS development were insufficient. Cembureau had indicated in January that it was reviewing the objectives in light of the EU's green deal published late last year, which set a target to reach net zero GHG emissions in the bloc by 2050.

But this more ambitious target for the European cement sector cannot be achieved without "decisive political action" at EU level in a number of areas, Cembureau said.

It estimates that 42pc of GHG emissions reductions in the sector will be achieved through CCS. The EU must therefore develop a CO2 transportation and storage network to support the technology, the trade body said.

A further 15pc of emissions cuts will come from replacing fossil fuels with non-recyclable and biomass waste, the association said, requiring the bloc to facilitate waste shipment and discourage landfill. And Cembureau expects low-carbon cement products to cut sector emissions by 13pc, calling on the EU to incentivise market uptake of such products.

"A level playing field on carbon, regulatory certainty as well as an ambitious industrial transformation agenda will be pivotal to deliver the investments needed to achieve carbon neutrality," the association said.

"Cement and concrete are already enablers of a European green deal, through the building of sustainable energy and transport infrastructure. Carbon neutrality along our full value-chain will be a massive effort, but we are confident we can achieve it. Our sector has made significant progress and, with the right tools and support from the EU, we can go much further," Cembureau chief executive Koen Coppenholle said.

Cement clinker production accounted for around 7.6pc of total emissions under the EU emissions trading system last year, up from a 7pc share in 2018, despite overall emissions in the sector having declined by around 0.4pc on the year.

By Victoria Hatherick