CEMENT AND CARBON EMISSIONS

We use lots of concrete from bridges to skyscrapers and its use is set to double in 30 years. Cement is the raw material which dries into concrete. The usual process for making cement is mixing limestone with clay, crushing it, heating the mix to 2600 degrees, and pulverizing the clinkers into powder. This powder is mixed with sand or gravel and water to make cement. This process causes about 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions.( Every ton of cement results in 1 ton of CO2). A California company, C-Crete Technologies, has developed a process that is carbon neutral. It replaces limestone with other rocks and needs no heat to make cement. It has one factory currently selling cement. Promising!

Earth Steward Action: Encourage policy makers to support new ways of reducing carbon emissions.

Sources: https://scientificamerican.com/latest/ (Scroll down to article about concrete and carbon capture).