India’s cement demand will soar but emissions need not

As India charts its path towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, infrastructure is expected to be the backbone of this transformation. Every facet of this progress—from affordable housing to expressways—would rest substantially on cement as a foundation. As the sector is a critical enabler of growth and urbanization, its environmental responsibility will be in focus.

- JOYDEEP MUKHERJEE & VIBHA DHAWAN

With transformative initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti, Housing for All and India’s Smart Cities Mission, cement demand is poised to rise sharply. At the same time, the sector contributes nearly 7 % of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions. This paradox of being both essential and emission-intensive makes the cement sector a crucible of climate and economic challenges.

Projections indicate that cement production in India will rise from 427 million tonnes in 2023-24 to around 1.5 billion tonnes by 2070. Per capita consumption is expected to nearly triple from 290kg to 877kg. In line with India’s net-zero target for 2070, the cement sector must accelerate its decarbonization. A recently unveiled roadmap jointly developed by TERI, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA India) and leading Indian industry stakeholders charts a pathway. Some of the key decarbonization strategies are as follow: