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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
How the cement industry is moving towards a low-carbon future
Globally, infrastructure growth and development activities are impossible without the cement industry . However, cement production leads to a substantial carbon footprint, exacerbating the overall rise in global warming. This is because producing cement involves a complex procedure wherein clay, limestone and other raw materials must be heated to high temperatures to produce clinker, which represents the core component in cement. Decarbonising manufacturing processes This is an energy-intensive process primarily using fossil fuels that generate heavy carbon emissions . As a result, the cement industry contributes approximately 7 to 8 per cent of the overall CO₂ emissions worldwide. But decarbonising hard-to-abate segments like cement needs major emission reductions across levels. Comprehending the serious environmental outcomes, India's cement industry has been implementing varied measures to soften the production impact by shifting towards sustainable manufacturing practices . As the world's second-largest cement producer , with an installed capacity of 600 million tonnes (MT), the domestic cement industry's yearly output stands at 391 MT. By embedding sustainable practices across all the manufacturing processes, India's cement industry has enhanced its focus on environmental sustainability. Aligned with the country's Nationally Determined Contribution commitments, these actions aim to lower the emission intensity of its GDP to 45 per cent by 2030 against the 2005 baseline. This approach calls for the deployment of low-carbon technologies and the use of sustainable, substitute raw materials while raising energy efficiency and exploring CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage) solutions. CCUS are indispensable for restricting the domestic cement sector's emissions to meet the net-zero goal by 2070. Herein, India harbours huge potential for CCUS in locations like the Deccan Traps and the Krishna-Godavari Basin, as well as mature oil & gas fields that offer tremendous CO₂ storage capacity. It's worth noting that India's cement industry has adhered to its Low Carbon Technology Roadmap in recent years, having willingly adopted this approach. Some of India's large cement producers are setting ambitious targets to limit direct CO₂ emissions. As per research estimates, more than 80 per cent of CO₂ emission reductions up to 2050 will be met via tech innovations. Role of energy efficiency and waste management Accordingly, cement makers have invested in energy-efficient technologies, maximising production processes while restricting energy usage. To capture and utilise excess energy, advanced kiln systems, preheaters and waste heat recovery mechanisms are being leveraged. This is helping cement producers manage energy and limit the need for additional energy. Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are also maximising the usage of energy. Further, renewable energy sources like solar, wind and biomass have been crucial in limiting polluting fossil fuel usage. Clean energy sources have also been instrumental in allowing the industry to lower CO₂ emissions and reduce energy costs. Simultaneously, waste is managed and minimised efficiently in harmony with circular economy principles. For example, methods emphasising the use of industrial by-products and waste as raw materials or energy substitutes are preferred in the production process. Apart from controlling the consumption of natural resources, it minimises waste that can impact the environment badly. In adherence with circular economy practices, waste is also managed and curbed effectively. To elaborate, procedures based on the use of industrial waste and by-products as energy substitutes or raw materials are a preferred production process option. Besides curbing natural resource consumption, this limits waste that could badly affect the environment. Eco-friendly practices to promote a sustainable future When it comes to transporting raw materials and/or finished goods, eco-friendly logistics is used to ensure sustainability objectives are met. Keeping this in mind, organisations are steadily shifting their transport channels to clean alternatives. While EVs and CNG-driven vehicles are growing more popular, the railways and waterways are also being explored, thanks to their limited emissions. Additionally, the significance of managing supply chain emissions has been recognised. Therefore, only suppliers and vendors adhering to eco-friendly practices are being empanelled. In this context, it is imperative to mention how government policies can encourage the implementation of sustainable practices. For instance, companies are being incentivised by carbon pricing mechanisms to boost sustainability programmes that facilitate greener operations. Carbon pricing tools nudge firms to reduce emissions, thereby avoiding expenses that can be invested more productively later. Institutional incentives for investing in clean technologies have also helped in fast-forwarding the industry's transition towards sustainable production. Moreover, green building guidelines have hastened the shift towards energy efficiency and the use of sustainable materials during cement production. In this scheme of things, water conservation is pivotal as cement production remains extremely water-intensive. Due to this, cement firms are utilising water-sensitive practices in the manufacturing process, like smart wastewater management systems, rainwater harvesting and restoration of water sources. All these efforts are gradually bearing fruit. Propelled by a raft of eco-friendly practices, India's cement industry is slowly but inevitably moving towards its goal of becoming the global leader in sustainable cement manufacturing practices.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Credit guarantee for Rs10 billion green funding agreed
Listen to article National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGCL) has agreed to support green financing up to Rs10 billion in a bid to create a conducive ecosystem for climate-smart entrepreneurship, particularly for young innovators and women-led green startups. NCGCL, which has recently been awarded 'AAA' rating by Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (Pacra), will provide support for green financing through a structured guarantee programme. The Ministry of Climate Change has expressed its readiness to striking a Rs10 billion green financing deal with NCGCL to boost green entrepreneurship. Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik held a high-level meeting with NCGCL CEO Ammar Habib to finalise a major financial collaboration aimed at supporting green development across Pakistan. Under the arrangement, NCGCL will evaluate projects to add a guarantee cover for both convertible bonds and hybrid structures as well as guarantee for credit, loans and to de-risk equity investment through a structured approach, depending on the financial and operational viability of green ventures. This partnership signals the ministry's commitment to creating a conducive ecosystem for climate-smart entrepreneurship, particularly for young innovators and women-led green startups. Malik welcomed the collaboration as a meaningful step towards mainstreaming green finance and mobilising private sector partnerships in Pakistan's climate and sustainability goals. NCGCL issues credit guarantees to financial institutions for unserved segments of the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector. "The SME sector is the backbone of any resilient economy," Ammar Habib, CEO of NCGCL, had told media earlier, adding that credit guarantees are a strategic lever, giving financial institutions the confidence to lend where they currently hesitate. He stressed that NCGCL is not just a credit guarantee company, but a market reform institution. Pakistan has currently witnessed a burgeoning landscape of climate startups and a growing recognition of the need for sustainable solutions. These innovative ventures have emerged across diverse sectors, largely targeting key environmental challenges such as energy transition, resource scarcity and waste management. Initiatives like Climate Innovation Pakistan and the Green Tech Hub, launched by NUST, are climate tech startups aimed at developing their climate-focused technologies and business models. Many of these startups are also directly aligning with Pakistan's ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets, which include 50% reduction in projected emissions by 2030, a 60% renewable energy target and 30% electric vehicle uptake. Companies like EzBike and Vlektra are working on electric mobility revolution, aimed at decarbonising urban transportation. In the renewable energy sphere, startups such as EcoEnergy have focused on providing affordable solar solutions, particularly to off-grid communities through solar installations nationwide. Pakistani climate startups are also making significant contributions in areas like waste management and sustainable agriculture. Companies such as Trashit and ConceptLoop are innovating in circular economy models, transforming waste into valuable resources or new products. Meanwhile, agritech startups are leveraging data and AI to enhance crop productivity, optimise water use and promote climate-resilient farming practices, directly addressing food security and water scarcity. Funds have been a challenge for such startups and recent deals between the Ministry of Climate Change and NCGCL will give a boost to both startups and entrepreneurs in green technology.
Web Release
22-06-2025
- Business
- Web Release
ONEE and EBRD launch first sustainability-linked loan in Moroccan power system to drive a low-carbon future
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Morocco's Office National de l'Electricité et de l'Eau potable (ONEE) have signed a €300 million loan agreement. ONEE is involved in generation, transmission and renewables. Morocco is strongly committed to the energy transition in order to achieve its objective of having 52 per cent of its installed capacity from renewables by 2030. In this context, ONEE and the country as a whole are taking important steps towards decarbonisation, while maintaining the security and affordability of energy. The loan is structured as a sustainability-linked loan (SLL) – the first one in the MENA and Africa region's energy sector. It provides an example of how energy utilities can link financing with support for the transition to a low-carbon economy. The proceeds will be used to improve the company's financial resilience, helping to alleviate the impact of the energy crisis. The SLL builds on ONEE's increasing climate ambitions via two key performance indicators – namely, reducing the carbon intensity of electricity generated in Morocco and increasing renewable sources' share of the country's total electricity production. The company's Sustainable Performance Targets (SPTs) are in compliance with Morocco's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments, and a leading independent second-party opinion provider has confirmed the SLL's alignment with the internationally recognised Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles, rating the overall project as 'ambitious'. This verification process was supported by FSD Africa. As part of the loan, ONEE has committed to undertake retirement of some Carbone intensive thermal capacities in the medium term, building on Morocco's enhanced climate ambition of transitioning to a net-zero economy by 2050 as announced at COP28. The EBRD will be supporting ONEE's efforts to (i) prepare a decarbonisation strategy, (ii) improve its climate governance and expand the digitalisation of the company's core activities by establishing a digital roadmap strategy and implementing digital use cases. As part of this decarbonisation effort, ONEE is further strengthening its network and capacity planning to facilitate the renewables to be connected to the grid, as well as continuing to optimise electricity dispatch by taking into account the network's carbon intensity. Morocco is at the forefront of the climate action agenda, and the EBRD has been one of the leading financiers of green technologies in the country for more than a decade now, being particularly active in private-sector financing.' Mark Bowman, the EBRD's Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, said: 'This landmark sustainability-linked loan – the first of its kind in the region's energy sector – demonstrates that innovative finance can drive real impact. The EBRD's support, in close coordination with the Moroccan Government, is helping ONEE to accelerate its decarbonisation and digitalisation journey while strengthening its financial resilience in response to the energy crisis. This reflects our commitment to sustainable growth and long-term impact.' Tarik Hamane, the CEO of ONEE, commented: 'Under the guidance of His Majesty Mohammed VI, Morocco is recognised as having one of the most ambitious strategies in the region for promoting renewable energy and pioneering green technologies. We are proud that ONEE is playing a major role in the integration of renewables into the energy mix with a view to increasing renewables' share to 52 per cent by 2030. The EBRD has been a long-standing and trusted partner in supporting our decarbonisation and energy transition goals. This new partnership marks another important milestone in our joint efforts to build a more sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon power system.' Morocco is a founding member of the EBRD and?became a beneficiary of Bank resources in 2012. To date, the EBRD has invested more than €5.4 billion in the country through 119 projects.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Experts raise red flags as record-breaking temps persist across entire nation: 'A stark warning'
The United Kingdom has officially notched its warmest spring on record, breaking the previous mark set just last year. This spring has also been crowned as the country's sunniest in recorded history. While some may be enjoying the extra rays, scientists have once again called for steps to address the continual and damaging rise of global temperatures. According to a June 2 news release from the Met Office — the UK's national meteorological service — 2025's spring earned the distinction as the warmest on record for the nation, with a mean temperature of 9.5°C, or 49.1°F. This blows past the UK's "long-term climatological average" of about 8.1°C. Although 2025 has seen this historically warm season, it remains in like company. The Met Office noted that eight of the 10 warmest springs on record have all occurred within the last 25 years. Alec Hutchings, chief climate adviser with the World Wildlife Fund, told The Guardian in early June that the new warm-weather record offers a sobering reminder. "This new Met Office data is a stark warning that climate change is no longer a distant threat — it's here now and it needs immediate action," Hutchings said. Emily Carlisle, a Met Office scientist, pointed to the larger picture in explaining the impact of the dramatic temperature increase: "This spring shows some of the changes we're seeing in our weather patterns, with more extreme conditions, including prolonged dry, sunny weather, becoming more frequent." "The data clearly shows that recent decades have been warmer, sunnier, and often drier than the 20th century average, although natural variation will continue to play a role in the UK's weather," Carlisle added. While extended higher temperatures may contribute to longer growing seasons for some farmers, others could face challenges from heat stress and drought. This easily may lead to disruptions in harvests, shortages in the food supply, and economic hardship for producers and consumers alike. The record warmth of this past spring has affected regional marine life as well. The Met Office said that sea surface temperatures reached record highs during the months of April and May, with some areas up to 4°C warmer than usual. Such changes can lead to ecosystem imbalances, altered breeding and migration patterns, and increased stress on sensitive species, which may even affect the local fishing industry. In an effort to alleviate the impact of record-setting temperatures, nations such as the UK have enacted proactive climate policies designed to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. In 2024, the UK set a goal to reduce emissions by 68% by 2030. This was a core component of its Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While governments, advocacy groups, and community organizers work to keep us on track to reach such goals, individuals can cut down on the heat-trapping pollution that warms our planet with some smaller-scale transitions at home. Switching to energy-efficient appliances, utilizing renewable energy resources, and reducing waste can all help to make a difference. The interconnectedness of climate issues means that most of these actions have more than one benefit. Installing solar panels along with a battery system, for example, can not only cut down on dirty energy use but also lower utility bills and improve a home's resilience to power outages following extreme weather. Making residential updates can feel overwhelming, but leveraging resources like EnergySage's free tools can make it easy to compare quotes from trusted local installers and even save homeowners up to $10,000 on solar installations. If the upfront investment of buying solar panels doesn't fit your budget, you may find that leasing solar panels could be the perfect option for your home. Palmetto's LightReach solar panel leasing program will install panels at your home for no money down while also allowing you to lock in low energy rates. Talking with friends and family about making shifts to renewable energy and sustainable habits is another no- to low-cost resource to draw on. Whether the topic is using public transportation together, organizing a budget-conscious ride-share program, or learning how to support pro-environment policies, these conversations can turn a one-person action into a neighborhood-wide effort, providing stability and multiplying effects. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
"India has decoupled economic growth from emissions": Dy Chairman Rajya Sabha Harivansh at BRICS forum
Brasilia [Brazil], June 5 (ANI): Underlining India's key achievements and initiatives in its fight against climate change, Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, said that India has decoupled economic growth from emissions. He was addressing a forum on Climate and sustainability at the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brasilia, Brazil, on Thursday. Harivansh informed the forum that India's climate actions are based on equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. 'India has progressively continued decoupling economic growth from emissions. Between 2005 and 2020, India's emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product reduced by 36%,' he said. 'India has installed 232 gigawatt of non-fossil electric capacity, thereby already achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) almost 8 years ahead of schedule,' he added. He also hoped that the upcoming COP30 in Brazil would be a critical milestone in global adaptation and resilience efforts. He urged the BRICS nations to join global sustainability initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, and the Global Biofuel Alliance to facilitate the ongoing efforts to address climate change. Earlier on Wednesday, the Deputy Chairman, in his remarks on the Global Health Alliance, underscored the urgent need for collective action for coordinated responses to emerging health challenges. He noted that Neglected Tropical Diseases remain deeply relevant areas of discussion, especially for low- and middle-income countries. In his address, Harivansh underlined various initiatives by the Indian government to expand and improve the quality of healthcare provided to its citizens. 'Our Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the world's largest health insurance program, which covers hospitalisation costs up to approx. 6000 USD to cover approximately 155 million families and has reduced out-of-pocket health expenditure by 30%. This scheme has now been extended to cover all citizens over 70 years of age. To transform India into a digitally empowered society, we have implemented the 'Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission'. We also have a scheme to address gaps in health infrastructure, disease surveillance, and research,' he said. Earlier, he also delivered his remarks on the Alliance for Global Health. The Indian delegation is being led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, along with other Members of Parliament. The BRICS Parliamentary Forum discusses several other topics, such as 'New Paths for Economic Development', 'Co-operation for responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence', and 'Reform of Multilateral Peace and Security Architecture'. (ANI)
