The cement industry, long considered a backbone of national infrastructure, is under growing pressure to reform as its contribution to climate change draws scrutiny.
With over 91 million metric tonnes of cement produced annually in the United States alone, and similar figures projected across emerging markets like India, the climate cost of this vital sector is coming into sharp focus. Responsible for 1.1 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the industry’s current carbon footprint poses a direct challenge to building future-ready, climate-resilient cities.As nations move aggressively towards net-zero goals, the cement sector stands out due to a dual emissions challenge—fuel combustion and chemical processes. While coal and petcoke continue to dominate fuel consumption, accounting for nearly half of total energy use in 2022, an even more stubborn source of emissions lies in the chemical transformation of limestone during clinker production, a process known as calcination. This reaction alone generates nearly 60 percent of cement-related emissions, and cannot be resolved through fuel switching alone.
India, with its vast urbanisation plans and push for smart cities, finds itself particularly vulnerable to the long-term consequences of these emissions. Cement’s weight and low value per tonne mean that production tends to be hyper-localised. As a result, regional disparities in emissions intensity make a compelling case for decentralised policy interventions tailored to local fuel markets and infrastructural readiness.While the United States has pioneered a shift from coal to cleaner fuels like natural gas, many of the newest and largest cement kilns globally—including in India—still rely heavily on cheaper fossil fuels. The economic rationale is clear: coal remains more cost-effective on a per-unit energy basis. However, this cost advantage obscures the mounting health and environmental costs. Cement plants have been shown to release over 140 regulated pollutants, with particulate emissions contributing to hundreds of premature deaths annually.
Enter carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), a technology that could become a lifeline for high-emitting plants. With concentrated COâ‚‚ exhaust streams, cement kilns present a technically favourable environment for CCUS deployment. Yet, without assertive policy frameworks, uptake remains limited. What is needed now is a cohesive regulatory roadmap that encourages innovation, supports cleaner fuels, and mandates stricter emissions controls—without sacrificing growth or job creation.India’s cement industry, much like its American counterpart, faces the daunting task of reducing emissions while supporting infrastructure expansion. However, this moment offers a transformative opportunity. Cleaner cement not only promises environmental dividends but also public health gains and stronger communities. Investing in cleaner production technologies, waste fuel adoption, and region-specific emissions controls could redefine urban development in a greener, fairer way.As India moves to become a global leader in climate action and sustainable development, transforming cement production is no longer optional. It is the cornerstone upon which resilient, equitable, and zero-carbon cities will be built.
