MANILA, Philippines — Cement manufacturers are aiming to reduce carbon emissions, while producing high quality cement to support the country’s infrastructure development under a roadmap launched in partnership with the government.
The Philippine Cement and Concrete Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap, which provides the long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions in the cement industry, was formally launched by the Department of Trade and Industry, Government of Canada, United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) at Makati Diamond Residences in Makati City on June 29.
The Philippines is among the first countries in Southeast Asia to come up with a decarbonization roadmap endorsed by both the government and industry.
Its decarbonization roadmap for the cement industry was developed with support and funding from the Canadian government through the Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Under the roadmap, the aim is to reduce the use of clinker in cement production as such contributes significantly to carbon emissions.
In particular, the target is to reduce the clinker cement factor from 75 percent in 2024 to 68 percent by 2030, 61 percent by 2040 and 58 percent by 2050.
The roadmap also sets targets for increased use of alternative fuels from 13 percent in 2024 to 25 percent in 2030, 35 percent in 2040 and 36 percent by 2050.
In addition, the roadmap seeks to promote energy efficiency improvements, use of supplementary cementitious materials and eventual deployment of carbon capture technologies.
“Developing and implementing a Cement and Concrete Decarbonization Roadmap is important because it provides a clear, coordinated strategy for one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries to reduce emissions while continuing to support economic growth and infrastructure development,” CeMAP president John Reinier Dizon said.
Beyond reducing carbon emissions, he said the roadmap also provides an industrial development strategy for the country.
“It ensures that as our nation continues to build homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and other vital infrastructure, we do so with lower carbon emissions, greater efficiency, enhanced competitiveness and stronger resilience. It provides a clear pathway for government and industry to work together in securing a sustainable future for both economic growth and environmental stewardship,” he said.