Industries, global supply chains and materials such as steel and concrete are essential to building the homes, transport and infrastructure we rely on, and to economic growth. But producing these materials generates significant emissions, and demand is expected to grow in the years ahead. As businesses face growing pressure to cut emissions and remain competitive, how can industry meet this demand more sustainably?
At Climate Week NYC, governments, businesses and industry leaders discussed the solutions, investment and policies needed to meet this challenge. We spoke to Nia Bell, Senior Manager of ConcreteZero at Climate Group, who helped launch the Blend Better Cement campaign, about her key takeaways and what needs to happen next.
Nia shares her key takeaways from Climate Week NYC this year and what needs to happen ahead of COP31.
What is one idea that stood out to you most from the conversations around heavy industry at Climate Week NYC?
We already know what needs to be done to cut emissions from heavy industry. The focus needs to shift towards making it happen at scale. That means prioritising those solutions that are proven and affordable.
Financing the upfront costs of producing low-carbon materials was a recurring topic; discussions explored different mechanisms for businesses to invest in cleaner production. Beyond funding, businesses also need to build the right skills to put newer approaches into practice.
What are the biggest opportunities you see for businesses looking to stay competitive in a low-carbon economy?
For low-carbon materials to compete with traditional steel and cement, they need to be produced at scale. Established suppliers operate at millions of tonnes a year, so low-carbon alternatives must reach hundreds of thousands of tonnes to compete.
There are already examples of this happening. In Ghana, CBI Ghana has the capacity to produce 400,000 tonnes of calcined clay a year. Calcined clay can replace some of the clinker in cement, the ingredient responsible for most of its emissions. By using it to make blended cement, CBI Ghana can produce cement with around 50% lower emissions* than the global average for ordinary Portland cement.
The Blend Better Cement campaign was launched at Climate Week NYC. Why is cement important for industrial decarbonisation?
Cement is one of the biggest sources of industrial emissions, accountable for 7-8% of global emissions, and demand is expected to keep growing towards 2050. 80% of future construction is expected in emerging economies, where cement will be essential for building homes, transport networks and cities.
Scaling blended cement, which replaces some of the traditional cement ingredients with alternative materials, offers a practical way to meet this demand while reducing emissions. The technology is proven, can be scaled using widely available materials, and can be cost-competitive, although the upfront costs of switching production remain a major barrier.
This opportunity is particularly exciting as it gives room for emerging economies to build their own industries and infrastructure while avoiding the high-emissions path taken by many developed ones.
Launched at Climate Week NYC 2026, the Blend Better Cement campaign calls on governments to scale the use of blended cement, which can cut emissions by up to 50% per tonne compared with ordinary Portland cement, while maintaining comparable strength, durability and cost, and supporting local supply chains and green industrialisation.
With governments, businesses and industry leaders from around the world discussing climate, were there any common themes emerging on industrial decarbonisation?
One theme was that progress is underway, but there are important lessons to learn from where it is taking place and what is making it possible. The right skills, market conditions and regulations all matter, but government policy is key to giving businesses the certainty they need to invest in low-carbon technologies, innovate and make them competitive.
Governments must also update product standards to keep pace with cleaner technologies, use public procurement to create regular demand for low-carbon materials, and work with industry to make the transition smooth and efficient.
There are encouraging signs of leadership. Twelve countries have now acknowledged the ICBC Call to Action on Blended Cement, including five announced at Climate Week NYC!
Looking ahead to COP31 and beyond, what needs to happen next to turn commitments into real emissions cuts in heavy industry?
We need to focus on where industrial emissions cuts will have the greatest impact. As economies develop, demand for materials such as cement and steel grows to support new housing, transport and infrastructure. This makes emerging markets particularly important to the future of industrial decarbonisation. We need to build on global efforts, including the Belém Declaration on Industrial Decarbonisation, by working with governments to turn commitments into clear policies, track progress and deliver real emissions cuts this decade.
* CBI Ghana’s operations deliver an average emissions reduction of around 40% per tonne of cement compared to Ordinary Portland Cement, with some products achieving reductions of up to 60%.
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Climate Group works with businesses through ConcreteZero and SteelZero to scale demand for low-carbon concrete and net zero steel, helping transform the industries and supply chains we rely on.
Find out how we’re working to accelerate industrial decarbonisation: https://www.theclimategroup.org/heavy-industry