What is being done about CO2 emissions during the cement manufacturing process?
The cement industry was among the first to address climate change, and has remained at the forefront of developing policies and improving the manufacturing process. Since 1975 the industry has reduced CO2 emissions by 33 percent. Today, the cement production accounts for less than 1.5 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, well below other sources such as electric generation plants for heating and cooling the homes and buildings we live in (33%) and transportation (27%). In 2000, the industry created a new way to measure CO2 emissions. Recently introduced guidelines will allow for greater use of limestone as a raw material of cement, ultimately reducing CO2 by more than 2.5 million tons per year. By the year 2020, plans call for further reduction of CO2 emissions to 10% below the 1990 baseline through investments in equipment, improvements in formulations, and development of new applications for cements and concretes that improve energy efficiency and durability.
