Trajectory and driving factors for GHG emissions in the Chinese cement industry

Accounting for 7% of energy consumption from all industrial sectors and 15% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China in 2009, the cement industry should be one of the main sectors to implement low carbon development. However, a detailed study on presenting its GHG emission trajectory and identifying the key driving factors has yet to be done. Under such a circumstance, this paper first presents a GHG emission inventory of the cement industry in China and then identifies the main driving factors that influence changes of GHG emissions in the cement industry by adopting LMDI method. Our results show that the total GHG emission in 2009 was 1095.1 Mt carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), of which 592.8 Mt CO2e was process-related and 502.3 Mt CO2e was energy-related. The major factors responsible for the increase of GHG emissions during 2005–2009 include cement production activity effect and clinker production activity effect, while energy intensity effect played a positive role to offset total GHG emissions. Finally, we present our policy implications and provide possible technical solutions for reducing GHG emissions of the cement industry in China. •The cement industry is one key sector to implement low carbon development in China.•LMDI method was used to quantify the main driving factors on GHG emissions in the cement industry.•Process-related GHG emission is 592.9 Mt CO2e and energy-related GHG emission is 501.5 Mt CO2e.•Cement production activity effect and clinker production activity effect are the key driving forces.