The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)’s Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) has published the third version of its Cement CO2 and Energy Protocol.

This protocol provides a harmonised methodology for calculating CO2 emissions, with a view to report these emissions transparently. It addresses all the direct and main indirect sources of CO2 emissions related to the cement manufacturing process, in absolute as well as in specific or unit-based terms.

Version 3 of the protocol incorporates revisions based on extended experience by cement companies using Version 2 (published in 2005) and on reporting of data in the CSI’s Getting the Numbers Right (GNR) online database.




The main objectives for revising the Protocol were:

* introducing additional key performance indicators (KPIs), e.g. KPIs based on cement in addition to those based on cementitious materials;

* accounting the CO2 emissions originating from the biomass content of mixed biomass and fossil fuels as climate neutral;

* introducing more extensive methods for reporting CO2 from on-site
electrical power generation; and

* introducing simple and detailed methods for reporting of the 
calcination CO2 emissions based on kiln input.



As reporting of energy (fuels, power) data is crucial for the calculation of CO2 emissions, the title of the protocol has been amended as “Cement CO2 and Energy Protocol”.



The Cement CO2 and Energy Protocol is intended as a tool for cement companies worldwide. It provides a harmonised methodology for calculating CO2 emissions, with a view to report these emissions for various purposes. It addresses all direct and the main indirect sources of CO2 emissions related to the cement manufacturing process and on-site power generation in absolute as well as specific or unit-based terms.