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Cement and concrete makers target net zero emissions by 2050

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4 years ago

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Cement and concrete makers target net zero emissions by 2050

Cement manufacturers around the world have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter within this decade and reach net zero emissions by 2050. They say this will have a significant impact on the prospects of the Cop26 climate summit.

This industry accounts for about 7%-8% of global carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to any country except China and the United States. Reducing emissions from cement production is difficult because the chemical processes used to make cement and concrete release carbon dioxide. The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), which represents the world’s 40 largest manufacturers and approximately 80% of industries outside of China, made its pledge on Tuesday. Several major Chinese cement and concrete companies that account for about 20% of the Chinese market have also joined. For more than ten years, the company has been committed to changing chemical processes and using different materials as well as ways to improve energy efficiency.

Tuesday’s pledge marks the first time a major producer has made a public pledge on climate issues. GCCA CEO Thomas Guillot said: “This is an important milestone-this is a big event. Concrete is the second most commonly used material in the world after water. We are the first department to do so as a joint commitment. , But I hope that more departments will do this, which will inspire more people to do so.” Guillot said that the pledge does not depend on government actions, although the industry prefers countries to set carbon prices and formulate policies to speed up the process.

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These companies promise to achieve net zero emissions without offsetting their emissions. This is something that some people in other industries plan to rely on this controversial approach to achieve net zero emissions targets. The reduction in emissions this decade will use existing technologies, but the industry’s 2030-2050 roadmap will require about one-third of the emissions reductions to come from the use of carbon capture and storage technologies that have not yet been widely used commercially. Adair Turner, chairman of the Energy Transition Commission think tank, said that given the nature of the industry, this move is a “big step forward.” “Everyone recognizes that cement and concrete production is one of the most difficult economic activities to decarbonize.

Achieving this goal will require better building design and construction, multiple forms of efficiency improvements, and carbon capture and storage,” he said. The peer said. Mike Childs, head of science at Friends of the Earth, said companies should also try alternatives to concrete. “Switching to cleaner fuels, such as electricity or hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources, can reduce carbon emissions [in cement], and innovation may one day help solve the process emissions problem. So, while these measures are good, But they are not all the answers. We need to reduce the use of cement and make the process cleaner. One way is to switch to wood,” he said.

News Source : The Guardian

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Construction Infrastructure

Equipped to thwart cyber attacks: Banks, insurance firms to Sitharaman

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4 weeks ago

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May 10, 2025

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Equipped to thwart cyber attacks: Banks, insurance firms to Sitharaman

Sitharaman gave banks instructions to keep offering smooth services to customers, even in isolated locations, in cooperation with authorities and security firms as needed. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman received assurances from Indian banks and insurance companies on Friday that they are prepared to stop any cyberattacks by Pakistani outfitted DDoS.

Distributed denial-of-service) systems. “Mock drills covering cybersecurity and disaster recovery scenarios at the highest levels have been held to ensure institutional readiness,” they informed her at a Friday meeting. According to the financial institutions (FIs), they are alert and actively monitoring phishing efforts. In order to guarantee prompt claim payouts.

Continuous customer service, Sitharaman instructed banks to keep offering smooth services to consumers, especially in distant places, in cooperation with regulators and security agencies New Delhi, May 10, 2025 — In a reassuring development for the financial sector, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that banks and insurance companies in India fully.

Speaking at a cybersecurity summit organized by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and IRDAI, Sitharaman stated that both public and private sector financial institutions have significantly ramped up their cyber preparedness equipped to counter cyber threats and have strengthened their digital security infrastructure safeguard.

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Rising Digital Transactions, Rising Risk

The Finance Minister’s remarks come in the wake of a growing number of cyber threats targeting the banking and insurance sectors, especially as India witnesses a steep rise in digital transactions. According to official data, digital payments in India grew over 76% year-on-year in FY 2024-25, driven by UPI, mobile banking, and digital policy purchases.

With this surge, the risks associated with data breaches, phishing, ransomware, and unauthorized access have also grown exponentially. Sitharaman emphasized the need for constant vigilance and investment in advanced cybersecurity technologies “Representatives from leading banks and insurance companies have assured the ministry that robust systems.

Institutional Safeguards in Place

The Finance Minister highlighted that both the RBI and IRDAI have issued detailed guidelines on cybersecurity protocols. Regular audits, simulation drills, and incident response mechanisms are now mandatory across institutions “Financial institutions cannot afford to be complacent. Cyber threats are evolving, and our preparedness must stay ahead of that curve.

“Banks are operating with 24×7 Security Operations Centers (SOCs), and insurance companies are also mandated to deploy advanced firewalls and data protection policies,” she noted ” she said real-time monitoring, and preventive frameworks are in place to detect, resist, and respond to cyber attacks,” Sitharaman said customers and operations Sitharaman also.

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Consumer Awareness Key

The minister also urged banks and insurers to invest in customer education. “A large number of cyber frauds happen due to lack of awareness. Institutions must proactively inform and empower users to identify and avoid suspicious links, calls, or messages,” she added mentioned that the government is working closely with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to ensure real-time threat intelligence sharing and coordinated.

As digital finance continues to evolve, Sitharaman reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a secure and resilient financial ecosystem for all stakeholders response strategies Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said banks and insurance companies have assured the government of their readiness to counter cyber threats. At a recent cybersecurity summit.

Financial institutions confirmed the implementation of advanced security systems, 24×7 monitoring, and compliance with RBI and IRDAI guidelines. Sitharaman emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance, customer And collaboration with CERT-In to ensure a secure digital financial ecosystem amid rising cyber risks of advanced securit Sitharaman emphasized the need for constant vigilance and investment in advanced.

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