Accelerate the development of low-carbon standards in the cement and concrete industry
Cement and concrete, as essential basic raw material industries, are typical high-energy-consuming and high-emission industries. They are also a key focus for life-cycle carbon emission accounting in fields such as construction. Promoting green and low-carbon production in the cement and concrete industry is crucial for my country to achieve its "dual carbon" goals. Domestic and international research indicates that carbon emission standards for cement and concrete products, as a fundamental policy tool, play a vital role in achieving national carbon reduction targets.
Current Status of Low-Carbon Development in the Cement and Concrete Industry
Concrete's excellent engineering properties make it an important building material. Cement, as the binder in concrete, is an upstream component of concrete production. my country's cement production accounts for about half of the global total, making it the world's largest cement producer and consumer. In recent years, affected by the profound adjustment of the real estate industry, overall cement demand has weakened. At the same time, goals such as low energy consumption and carbon reduction have placed higher demands on cement companies' technological upgrades. Therefore, the green and low-carbon development of the cement industry faces significant challenges.
01 Decarbonization is of great significance for achieving emission reduction targets
Related research indicates that carbon dioxide emissions from cement and concrete production account for approximately 7%-8% of global annual carbon dioxide emissions. If the cement and concrete industry were a country, it would become the world's fourth largest emitter, after China, the United States, and India. Cement is a crucial component of concrete and a significant source of carbon emissions from concrete.
Carbon emissions from cement production can be divided into direct and indirect emissions: direct emissions mainly come from CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion and CO₂ released from the decomposition of carbonates during clinker calcination; indirect emissions mainly come from CO₂ emissions from electricity consumption and transportation. With urbanization and infrastructure upgrades, the demand for cement and concrete will continue to grow. Therefore, achieving green and low-carbon production in the cement and concrete industry is of great significance for global climate change mitigation.
02 The Cement Industry's Carbon Emission Reduction Standard System Needs to Be Established
Standards, as an important component of a nation's fundamental system, play a fundamental and guiding role in achieving "dual carbon" goals. In November 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other departments issued the "Implementation Plan for Carbon Peaking in the Building Materials Industry," proposing to incorporate carbon emission indicators for products such as cement into the green building materials standard system.
In April 2023, 11 departments, including the National Standardization Administration, issued the "Guidelines for the Construction of a Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutralization Standard System," requiring the acceleration of the formulation of carbon emission accounting and reporting standards for key industries such as building materials. In January 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Guidelines for the Construction of a Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutralization Standard System in the Industrial Sector," requiring a focus on key carbon-emitting industries such as building materials, accelerating the formulation of urgently needed standards, and promoting standardization work related to carbon peak and carbon neutrality. In June 2024, 15 departments, including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, jointly released the "Implementation Plan for Establishing a Carbon Footprint Management System," proposing to focus on cement products and formulate and release product carbon footprint accounting rules and standards.
The release of these relevant national policies has provided guidance for the building materials industry to establish a carbon emission reduction standard system, and fully demonstrates the importance and urgency of low-carbon standard construction in the cement and concrete industry.
