Concrete is everywhere; from buildings and bridges to roads and sidewalks, it is the most widely used human-made material on Earth. The world produces more than 4.1 billion metric tons of cement each year, with China alone producing over half of the global output, followed by India, Vietnam, and the United States. Demand for cement and concrete continues to grow. Global construction is projected to add 2.6 trillion square feet (240 billion square meters) of new floor area by 2060, which is equivalent to building another New York City every month for the next 40 years, driven largely by rapid urbanization in the Global South.
The cement and concrete sector accounts for nearly 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, the vast majority of which come from producing clinker, the precursor to cement and the key ingredient that gives concrete its strength. To make clinker, limestone is heated in kilns to approximately 1450 degrees Celsius, typically by burning coal, natural gas, or petroleum coke. This process releases carbon dioxide both from the combustion of fossil fuels and from the chemical reaction that breaks down limestone, creating a dual emissions challenge that is responsible for about 88 percent of concrete’s carbon footprint.
The clinker is then ground into cement using electricity, transported, and mixed with aggregates (typically sand, gravel, and crushed stone) and water to create concrete. Think of it like a cake, where aggregate is the flour that gives structure and bulk, cement is the egg that binds everything together, and water is the milk that activates the mix and gives it the right consistency.
Concrete’s global scale and the highly local nature of its production both shape the decarbonization challenge. While cement is often exported internationally, concrete is made close to where it will be used. Concrete is heavy and starts to harden as soon as it is mixed, making it impractical to transport over long distances. Production and consumption are therefore closely tied to local demand, available materials, and policy environments, creating highly regionalized markets that require locally tailored solutions.
Concrete is indispensable
Despite its outsized climate impact and the challenges associated with decarbonization, concrete is indispensable. Its strength, versatility, and widespread availability have made it the go-to building material for centuries. It is also a climate-resilient material, enabling durable, fire-resistant, and adaptive infrastructure that can withstand rising temperatures and extreme weather. As populations grow across the Global South and climate resilience becomes increasingly important, concrete will remain the cornerstone of the built environment. Decarbonizing its production is essential to minimize environmental harm and reduce pollution, which improves air quality, protects public health, and safeguards people and ecosystems from the worst impacts of climate change.
Addressing the climate impacts of concrete will not be simple.
Adoption of low-carbon technologies and practices can be slowed by fragmented markets, outdated standards, and the high cost of new technologies, yet growing policy momentum, voluntary corporate commitments, and expanding market opportunities for low-carbon materials are creating powerful incentives for change. Emissions will rise if traditional production methods persist, but many rapidly urbanizing regions can leapfrog directly to low-carbon production. With innovations across the cement and concrete value chain ready to scale, this presents a window for early investors and adopters to shape a fully decarbonized future.
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Article published 11/14/25 written by Monet Kunz.
