Five Nations Joined Global Low-Carbon Cement Coalition
Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda have committed to prioritize blended cement in public infrastructure.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Five nations have officially joined the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate to promote the use of blended cements. The move aims to lower carbon emissions from large-scale public construction projects.
Why it matters
Concrete production currently accounts for 7-8% of global carbon emissions, making the transition to lower-carbon materials essential for meeting climate goals. Governments are leveraging public procurement to drive market demand for these sustainable alternatives.
Blended cements can reduce emissions by 50% per tonne compared to traditional Portland cement. The coalition expansion brings the total number of participating nations to 12.
The players
Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate
This international body coordinates efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment through policy and standard setting.
Ethiopia
This nation is a newly joined member of the coalition and will serve as the host for the COP32 conference in 2027.
The details
The five countries have pledged to update national standards and building codes to incorporate supplementary materials like calcined clay, limestone fines, or industrial by-products. This policy shift targets the public sector, where infrastructure projects represent a significant portion of global concrete demand.
Timeline
The five countries joined the coalition on September 22, 2026.
Ethiopia is scheduled to host the COP32 climate conference in 2027.
Global planners are focusing on infrastructure projects projected to be built by 2050.
Roadmap
The transition to blended cements follows the ICBC initiative's blended cement standards, setting a precedent for carbon reduction in the construction industry. This move signals a broader shift as developing nations align public procurement with low-carbon industrial requirements.
Public infrastructure projects in these nations will increasingly utilize materials that reduce the carbon intensity of construction by half. Residents may see changes in local building standards and procurement requirements for upcoming government-funded developments.
The takeaway
Adopting blended cement is a proven strategy to mitigate the high carbon output associated with modern concrete production. Policymakers should focus on standardized procurement requirements to ensure these materials become the industry norm.
What happens next
Discussions regarding the integration of buildings and industrial sustainability are scheduled to take place at COP31, followed by Ethiopia hosting COP32 in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about industrial energy transitions in the Electric Vehicles section.
Live Poll
Should your government mandate the use of lower-carbon blended cement in public infrastructure projects?
