Chinese decarbonisation pathway

I’ve recently returned from China, where together with my GCCA – Global Cement and Concrete Association colleague – Cement, Innovation and ESG Director, Claude Lorea – I was taking part in key discussions about the county’s continued green and carbon neutral journey, and in particular, our own industry.??

Earlier this year, the GCCA was delighted to announce a milestone agreement with the China Cement Association (CCA) to work together and help accelerate the decarbonisation of our industry around the world. The agreement was the result of many months of conversations. It’s important, because the CCA represents more than 50% of the world’s cement production, and GCCA members represent more than 80% of cement production outside of China. Together, we represent the two leading bodies of the global cement industry.

In 2020, China’s leader Xi Jinping pledged to “peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030” and “achieve carbon neutrality before 2060”. And there is no question the country is taking action. Fossil fuels now make up less than half of China’s energy use – down from two-thirds a decade ago. China is seeing a boom in renewable energy – its commitment to double its renewables capacity to 1,200 gigawatts, by 2030, should be met this year. One gigawatt alone is enough to power around 750,000 homes. For those who have not travelled to China recently, it is incredible to contemplate the progress being made, starting with the number of electrical cars, their mind-blowing train system and the cleanliness of their cities.???

Under the GCCA’s agreement with the CCA, we have pledges to work together on sustainability, and the low-carbon development of the cement and concrete industry in China. The historic agreement will also see the development, and launch later this year, of a whole value chain China Concrete Carbon Neutrality Roadmap, which will set out a pathway to fully decarbonise the cement and concrete industry in China. The GCCA is assisting with development of the roadmap, alongside 中国中材国际工程股份有限公司 , the world’s largest cement technology and equipment company. ECRA - The European Cement Research Academy (ECRA) will also provide technical support.??

While in China, I took part in the 2nd Sinoma Green and Intelligent Summit where I was invited for a CEO roundtable panel on the future prospects of the cement plant. The conference was attended by ambassadors and key companies from around the world. I was also invited to be part of the release ceremony of Sinoma's Scientific and Technological Innovation achievements for 2024. You can see me on stage in the accompanying photo!??

Green and Intelligence, this is what the world needs to achieve our hugely ambitious decarbonisation objectives, but there is however another dimension that matters – time – and having to deliver within the next 25 years. This is definitely what China is about, the entire summit was a demonstration of making things possible, now!?

Claude Lorea was an invited speaker in a parallel session at the 4th?International Conference on Calcined Clays for Sustainable Concrete in China, where I was also invited. She highlighted the essential role that calcined clays and LC3 cement will play in helping to deliver the GCCA 2050 Net Zero Concrete Roadmap. I was truly amazed with the actual maturity and momentum of this LC3 technology and the interest it generates from around the world.??

This conference brought together 400 experts from around the world, all in the English language. Three days of rich content feeding hungry and demanding minds, showing the tremendous progress that LC3 technologies have made in recent years, helping to understand its application and its actual use in various projects globally. If someone would ask me for example of new technology having large scale impact on decarbonisation that can be implemented swiftly, I am sure LC3 ticks all boxes.?

Claude also used the opportunity to visit Prof. Pan Feng at the School of Material Science and Engineering at 东南大学 , in Nanjing and 同济大学 in Shanghai. The two universities are key academic partners in our Innovandi Global Cement and Concrete Research Network.??

The world needs leadership and collaboration like never before, especially on addressing the key issue of our time, climate change.?

Cement and concrete help provide the key infrastructure, support thriving and resilient communities, clean water, safe homes and the shift to clean energy that are essential to a future sustainable world. And the GCCA’s agreement with the CCA is a win-win. It shows where we can collaborate effectively to bring insights, technical know-how and greater focus to our shared decarbonisation mission. And it is a signal to the world that we stand ready to deliver the essential decarbonised building materials that our planet desperately needs.??

LC3 Project - Low Carbon Cement