Using Public Procurement of Low Carbon Cement for Sustainable Infrastructure and Augmenting Nationally Determined Contributions 
 

Against the backdrop of a shifting narrative on climate action and the commitments of several developing and developed economies to achieve net zero emissions, country-specific and time-bound goals to mitigate climate change through the adoption of cleaner mechanisms are critical. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) are a strategy to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. In their NDCs, countries set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and to prepare for its consequences. It goes on to describe the methods for achieving the goals as well as sophisticated mechanisms for tracking and validating progress to keep everything on track.

In August 2022, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved India's updated NDCs for submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The new National Development Plan of India will be implemented over the years 2021-2030 through programmes and schemes of relevant Ministries/Departments, as well as assistance from states and union territories. India is taking the LiFE — Lifestyle For Environment Mission to the forefront of the global stage, capitalising on the country's heritage of knowing how to live in harmony with nature.

For the cement industry, which is a substantial CO₂ emitter, currently, the most efficient way to reduce emissions is to reduce the clinker content in production. Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC³) is a blended cement composed of only 50% clinker and it can be successfully produced by cement industries with significantly lower production costs.

Public procurement of LC³ can serve in establishing public confidence in low carbon building materials and influence consumer preference. The introduction of LC³ in the national cement mix (consisting of Ordinary Portland Cement, Portland Pozzolana Cement, Portland Slag Cement, and other blended cement) and its uptake by Indian cement companies for production in large volumes to cater for the growing infrastructure demands will be able to massively curtail the CO₂ generation and reduce overexploitation of natural resources. Thus, it will contribute towards achieving India’s long-term goal of reaching net zero by 2070.

OECD (2015a), Government at a glance 2015. OECD Publishing, Paris, http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/gov_glance-2015-en.