The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and the Global CCS Institute (GCCSI) have formalized a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This two-year agreement establishes a collaborative framework intended to accelerate the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies across the global cement and concrete manufacturing sector. Announced at the GCCA’s CEO Strategic Dialogue 2026 in Madrid, Spain, the initiative coordinates shared outreach, thought leadership, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. The initial milestone of this partnership will be a high-level roundtable designed to convene industry executives and policy stakeholders to advance joint climate mitigation priorities.

The major challenge addressed by this partnership is the heavy environmental footprint of concrete production, which currently accounts for approximately 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Because concrete remains an indispensable material for constructing resilient, safe, and essential infrastructure worldwide, manufacturing cannot simply be halted. Consequently, the industry faces severe pressure to reduce and ultimately eliminate these emissions to align with global climate neutrality targets. Mitigating emissions at this scale requires navigating complex technical integration, securing immense capital investment, and overcoming policy barriers that restrict the deployment of standard industrial carbon mitigation pathways.

To resolve these systemic barriers, the GCCA will leverage the specialized technical knowledge of the Global CCS Institute, a leading international carbon capture think tank. Under the terms of the MOU, the two organizations will execute a structured program to promote awareness of advanced capture technologies specifically tailored for cement kilns. They will systematically share technical insights and policy considerations required to build viable investment conditions. Furthermore, the partnership will jointly advocate for carbon capture as an essential, primary pillar within broader industrial decarbonization strategies, ensuring that project pathways are integrated into national policy frameworks.

The anticipated outcomes of this partnership center on accelerating the implementation of the GCCA’s Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap. By bridging the gap between technical expertise and factory-floor deployment, the initiative helps member companies—which represent a significant share of global cement production—reach net-zero goals more rapidly. The newly established stakeholder roundtable will optimize investment efficacy and catalyze capital deployment directly into cement sector projects. Ultimately, the action establishes the policy and technical foundation necessary for commercial carbon capture projects to succeed across operations in nearly every country.