Joining forces against climate change
HeidelbergCement signs on to the Low Carbon Technology Partnership initiative of the WBCSD
During the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris (COP21), HeidelbergCement and 17 other cement companies reaffirmed their commitment to tackling climate change by signing the Low Carbon Technology Partnership initiative (LCTPi), initiated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Together, they committed to a global action plan aimed at a 20 – 25% reduction in global CO₂ emissions by 2030, compared to what is considered “business as usual”.
As part of a broader effort by the WBCSD, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Sustainable Developments Solutions Network have initiated a collaborative platform bringing together 140 global businesses and 50 partners to accelerate the development, deployment and scale-up of low carbon technologies. The cement sector has been identified as one of the nine most promising areas when it comes to delivering significant emission reductions.
The LCTPI for cement
The LCTPi for cement is an ambitious long-term project to scale up deployment of low carbon technologies. To achieve this goal and ensure the economic viability of large-scale deployment, technologies and necessary policy actions have been identified. These encompass energy efficiency improvements, the use of alternative fuels and raw materials, clinker substitution and development of cement types that require lower energy for their production.
Action plan for the cement industry
The 26-page cement action plan not only examines carbon emission reduction strategies, but also identifies four areas promising to generate the greatest positive impact:
- Use of biomass to generate power
- Use of energy generated from municipal solid waste recovery
- Carbon capture and storage
- Concrete road surfacing
In addition to identifying strategies and technologies, the LCTPi for cement formulates clear policy actions that are needed to remove barriers for investment, as well as to implement and scale up those solutions.
