U.S. Cement Industry: Perspectives on Climate Change

摘要

Cement manufacturing requires the combustion of large amounts of fossil fuels; as a consequence, the industry emits greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO_2). The U.S. portland cement industry has made great strides over the last few decades to improve energy efficiency, and, as a result, has reduced markedly the amount of CO_2 emitted per ton of cement produced. Nevertheless, the process remains energy intensive, and international policies to reduce atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases could have a deleterious effect on U.S. production. The industry is, therefore, very interested in the development and outcome of international negotiations addressing greenhouse gas emission reductions.