- Government support for blended cement as a key lever to decarbonise the cement and concrete industry is growing across the globe.
- Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda have joined a growing coalition of 12 governments backing blended cement, a proven and readily available solution that can halve carbon emissions per tonne of cement compared to ordinary Portland cement.1
- The announcement coincides with the launch of Blend Better Cement, a global campaign bringing together governments, industry and climate organisations to advance national policies that boost the use of blended cement.
NEW YORK, 22 September 2026 – Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda have joined a growing coalition of governments backing lower-carbon blended cement, a readily available solution that can significantly cut emissions from cement production, one of the world’s largest sources of industrial carbon emissions. The five new countries bring the number of nations backing the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC)’s initiative2 to twelve.
Blended cements use alternative materials, also known as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as calcined clay, limestone fines or industrial by-products, to reduce emissions while delivering comparable strength, durability and cost.
All countries have pledged to use policy levers such as prioritising blended cement in public procurement and updating their national standards. As governments are the world's largest buyers of concrete, this support can secure faster scaling of blended cement – which can cut emissions by 50% per tonne of cement3, compared to Portland cement.
"Blended cement is deployable today – as demonstrated by Ghana’s growing blended cement industry. It is key to cutting carbon from Africa's huge wave of new construction. Ghana is supportive of any solutions which directly contribute to the realisation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)," said Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Chief Executive Officer,
Environmental Protection Authority, Ghana.
Concrete is the world's most-used building material, accounting for around 7-8% of global carbon emissions4. The UN estimates that 75% of all infrastructure that will exist in 2050 has yet to be built5 , which provides opportunities to scale solutions for lower-carbon construction, including blended cements. The ingredients chosen today will determine emissions for decades to come.
The announcement coincides with the Climate Week NYC launch of Blend Better Cement, a global campaign that urges governments to advance policies that accelerate the use of lower-carbon blended cement, alongside other solutions to decarbonise construction materials.
The campaign brings together the UNEP-hosted Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC), the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), the Cement and Concrete Breakthrough Agenda, the LC3 Project, Climate Group and Systemiq
What governments control, and why now
The five new signatories join Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Luxembourg and New Zealand in supporting the ICBC's Call to Action on Blended Lower Carbon Cement and Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). Together, they are committing to use policy tools such as public procurement and standards to help accelerate the uptake of lower-carbon cement.
The growing coalition reflects increasing recognition among governments of the need to cut emissions from the built environment, and of the practical tools available to do so. As major buyers of concrete for public infrastructure, governments can help create demand for lowe-carbon alternatives, while standards and building codes can enable their wider use.
With buildings and industry expected to feature prominently at COP31, the growing coalition demonstrates how governments are already using these policy levers to support lower-emission construction. COP31 will be co-hosted by Türkiye, a major global cement producer where clinker, the most carbon-intensive component of ordinary cement, has been capped at 80% of cement
used in publicly funded projects. Reducing the amount of clinker is one of the main ways blended cement can lower emissions.
As host of COP32 in 2027, Ethiopia is well placed to highlight approaches that can support infrastructure development and lower-emission construction as demand for new buildings and infrastructure grows across Africa.
“Ethiopia has no doubts about scaling blended cement,” says Dawit Alemu Beshah, Project Manager, Climate Change Sector Reform Performance Project at the Ethiopian Ministry of Industry. “It uses clean energy, strengthens our industry, and makes the most of the raw materials we are blessed with. It’s not just an environmental story, but one about competitiveness and industrialisation.”
“Blended cement can build African jobs and green industrialisation, while cutting emissions from Africa's rapidly growing construction sector. Kenya is proud to back the Blend Better Cement campaign," says Kennedy Matheka, Deputy Director of Safety and Climate Resilience, Ministry of Lands, Public Work, Housing and Urban Development, Kenya.
Through the Blend Better Cement campaign, partners are calling on more governments to support policies that accelerate the uptake of blended cement ahead of COP31.
Blend Better Cement Partners
Monique Barbut, Ministre de la Transition écologique, de la Biodiversité et des Négociations internationales sur le climat et la nature, France:
"Blended cement with natural Supplementary Cimentous Materials is one of the most scalable near-term levers to decarbonize cement and concrete this decade. As ICBC co-chair, France is proud to back Blend Better Cement."
Gulnara Roll, Head of the GlobalABC Secretariat at UNEP:
"The momentum we are seeing today is not only about a material, but about government leadership. Through the ICBC's Call to Action on Blended Cement, countries are sharing experience, strengthening policies and helping create the market conditions needed to scale lower-emissions construction. The addition of five new governments is a strong signal that this momentum is continuing to grow.”
Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA):
"SCMs are a proven technology that have a critical role to play in accelerating the decarbonisation of our industry. To unlock their full potential, we need enabling policies that support innovation and market adoption, including modernised standards, updated building codes, and public procurement frameworks that allow and encourage the greater use of blended lower-carbon cements. We are proud to partner with GlobalABC and its members on the ICBC Call to Action on Blended Lower Carbon Cements and SCMs, which recognises the vital contribution that low-carbon cement solutions can make in reducing embodied emissions and
accelerating progress towards global climate goals."
Anne DeKeukelaere, Facilitator of the Cement and Concrete Breakthrough Agenda:
"Blend Better Cement goes to the heart of one of the most urgent challenges facing governments today: how to deliver the infrastructure needed for economic growth, housing and the clean energy transition without locking in unnecessary upfront emissions. Scaling blended cements is one of the lowest-hanging fruits available. The technologies exist, the materials are available, but
we need to grow the market fast. By accelerating demand for and supply of lower-carbon, cost-competitive blended cements, governments can take practical action today to deliver lower emissions at scale while supporting economic development."
Eveline Speelman, Partner at Systemiq:
“What makes this campaign special is that it closes the gap between ambition and action. Blended cement is already commercially viable and attractive, but what is needed to drive wider adoption is coordinated action from governments and industry."
Jen Carson, Director of Heavy Industry at Climate Group:
“The launch of Blend Better Cement marks a pivotal moment in bringing cleaner cement into the mainstream. Blended cements are readily available today and offer an immediate, scalable pathway to reducing emissions now. What remains critical is a clear and consistent demand signal. By specifying blended cement across public and private projects, governments and the largest buyers can catalyse market transformation and give producers the confidence to invest at scale. We’re calling on countries globally to champion this transition on the road to COP31, unlocking far-reaching climate and economic benefits across the built environment.”
Footnotes
1. 50% compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which consists of ~95% clinker. Ordinary Portland Cement
(OPC) remains the most widely used cement type globally, underpinning much of the world's roughly 4 billion
tonnes of annual cement production.
2. Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC)’s Country Action on Blended Lower Carbon
Cements and SCMs to reduce Clinker Content and GHG emissions: Link
