EU dialogue on cement industry's low‑carbon transition
- Industrial Decarbonisation Bank targets EUR 100 billion in public funding to support cement decarbonisation.
- Net‑Zero Industry Act requires 50 Mt/year CO2 injection and storage capacity by 2030 and the Commission's CO2 transport/market proposal is due Q3 2026.
- Over 60% of sector emissions are direct CO2 from clinker calcination, making CCUS and clinker substitution essential.
- Participants included Cemex, Holcim, Heidelberg Materials, Buzzi, Aalborg Portland and Titan Cement; Member States currently reinvest only about 5% of ETS revenue on average in industrial decarbonisation.
Purpose and participants
A sectoral policy dialogue in Brussels brought industry representatives and stakeholders together with Commissioner Jessika Roswall to discuss accelerating the cement sector’s clean transition, focusing on innovation, competitiveness and resilience.
Market measures and standards
The Industrial Accelerator Act will promote demand via a low‑carbon concrete label and public procurement, while revisions to the Construction Products Regulation will introduce mandatory lifecycle climate-impact disclosure and harmonised performance‑based standards to enable innovative solutions and clinker substitution.
Finance and incentives
The Industrial Decarbonisation Bank aims to mobilise EUR 100 billion in public funding; participants urged Member States to increase the share of ETS revenue invested in industrial decarbonisation (currently about 5% on average), align funding criteria, provide one‑stop‑shop access, and scale de‑risking instruments such as carbon contracts for difference, with State aid guidance to follow.
Infrastructure, emissions and skills
More than 60% of sector emissions stem from direct CO2 in clinker calcination, making CCUS and clinker substitution central to decarbonisation; priorities include accelerating CO2 transport and storage, meeting the Net‑Zero Industry Act target of 50 Mt/year CO2 injection and storage by 2030, a Commission proposal on CO2 transport/markets due Q3 2026, streamlined permitting, and workforce reskilling via Union of Skills and Pact for Skills initiatives.
Source: European Commission