Decarbonizing Cement
Columbia Business School Climate Knowledge Initiative
Cement production accounts for 5-8% of global CO2e emissions, with emissions more than doubling since 2000. Over 80% of these emissions come from the calcination of limestone in clinker production, an emission-intensive process with no easy substitute. As demand for cement continues to grow, reducing its carbon footprint is a critical challenge.
Key decarbonization strategies focus on reducing clinker use, developing alternative chemistries, and scaling carbon capture technologies. However, adoption remains slow due to cost, infrastructure constraints, and regulatory uncertainty. The key question is: How can the industry accelerate the transition while maintaining performance and affordability?
See CKI's cement deep-dive to explore innovative technologies, market barriers, and policy levers to accelerate the adoption of these solutions.
