China announces carbon reduction targets for cement production

Chinese government agencies have set specific carbon emission reduction goals for the cement industry, as the country shifts toward a low-carbon economy.

China plans to cut CO₂ emissions by around 13Mt between 2024 and 2025. According to multiple government agencies, including the National Development and Reform Commission, this will be achieved through industrial renovation and equipment renewal at cement plants. Over the period, China also aims to save the energy equivalent of 5Mt of coal in cement production.

It is expected that, by the end of 2030, the overall energy efficiency of China’s cement industry will reach a world-class level and its use of energy will be optimised further.

Earlier this year, the country announced that half of the clinker capacity in major air pollution regions should undertake ultra-low emission transformation by the end of 2025. By 2028, 80 per cent of the country’s total clinker capacity is expected to have completed this transformation.

China has announced that peak carbon will be reached before 2030, and carbon neutrality will be achieved before 2060.