Concrete, a cornerstone of modern infrastructure, faces an uncertain future as the federal government pulls back funding meant to reduce the cement industry’s significant climate impact.
Ames Alexander reports for Floodlight.
In short:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has canceled 21 grants, including those aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the cement and concrete industries, weakening momentum from Biden-era decarbonization efforts.
- Cement production generates roughly 8% of global carbon emissions, mainly due to fossil fuel-fired kilns and the chemical processes involved in making clinker, the binding element in concrete.
- Despite federal cutbacks, some states and members of Congress are advancing bipartisan legislation and “buy clean” policies to promote low-emission materials in construction.
Key quote:
"That just means that we're not going to have the benefit of the federal government accelerating our progress. That would have helped. Clearly.”
— Lionel Lemay, executive vice president of structures and sustainability, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Why this matters:
Concrete is second only to water as the most consumed substance on Earth, and the cement used to bind it is a major source of carbon pollution. The sheer scale of cement use — in roads, housing, and public infrastructure — makes its climate impact immense and hard to ignore. As the planet warms, emissions from cement are expected to rise sharply, especially in developing countries with growing infrastructure needs. Making cement cleaner is both a technical and economic challenge, but also a public health issue. Fossil fuel-fired kilns not only emit carbon but also release fine particulate matter and other air pollutants that can harm nearby communities. Delays in transitioning to low-carbon alternatives mean prolonging these exposures.
Related: Concrete industry seeks to curb emissions in pursuit of net-zero targets
