For years, we have focused on reducing our emissions, increasing energy efficiency in our operations, using alternative fuels, decreasing our clinker factor and promoting the use of renewable energy.

Up to 2020, we have achieved a significant reduction globally close to 23% in our net CO₂ emissions per ton of cementitious compared to 1990 levels, which, just for that year alone, meant we avoided emitting 8.6 million tons of CO₂, equivalent to annual emissions of 1.9 million passenger vehicles. Recognizing that global climate action goals require stronger efforts, we are committing to reach below 475 kg CO₂/ton cementitious by 2030, a more than 40% reduction in net specific CO₂ emissions vs. 1990. We have already committed to validate this new 2030 goal with the Well-Below Two Degree Scenario of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and we are bringing forward by 5 years, to 2025 our previous 2030 goal of 520 kg CO₂/ton cementitious, a 35% reduction in specific CO₂ emissions.

Our former 2030 CO₂ emissions reduction target and implementation roadmap has been validated by the Carbon Trust including both scope 1 and 2. The Carbon Trust validation confirms that we have a robust climate change strategy, the appropriate corporate governance and planning mechanisms for the implementation of our pathway to reduce our emissions in line with the Sectoral Decarbonization Approach (SDA).

Additionally and thinking beyond 2030, we have established an ambitious strategy to address climate change, which includes delivering net-zero CO₂ concrete by 2050 globally, which will contribute to the development of climate-smart urban projects, sustainable buildings and climate-resilient infrastructure. In line with this ambition, we have set a transparent medium-term reduction goal in concrete of 165 kg CO₂/m3 by 2030 equivalent to 35% reduction vs. 1990.

During 2020 we achieved a global fuels substitution rate above 25%. 91% of our cement plants co-processed more than 3 million tons of waste as alternative fuels, enabling the replacement of around 2 million tons of coal. We will continue to seek investment opportunities to find and transform new sources of waste to replace fossil fuels, wherever possible.

We currently lead our industry in the use of clean energy, establishing an ambitious 2025 goal of 35% and a 2030 goal of 40% of our projected electricity consumption. As a result of our global strategy to transition low carbon power, in 2020, 29% of our cement operations’ electricity came from clean energy sources.

The use of cementitious materials reduces the clinker-to-cement ratio, which means lower emissions and lower energy use. CEMEX uses clinker substitutes such as blast furnace slag, fly ash, limestone and other pozzolanic minerals to reduce our carbon footprint. Currently, the clinker factor of our products is 77% as of 2020, down from 85.5% in 1990.