Cement, Steel, and Natural Gas Are Major Greenhouse Gas Emitters, Too

Taken together, cement production, iron- and steelmaking, and natural-gas leaks rival transportation in their effects on climate.

While our June 2018 special report, “Blueprints for a Miracle,” covers many of the key sources of greenhouse gases and strategies for their mitigation, the report does not address three rather substantial sources.  The production of cement—the primary component in concrete—accounts for about 5 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.  Iron- and steelmaking contribute a similar amount [PDF].  The use of natural gas (methane) in place of oil or coal reduces carbon emissions, but methane itself is a potent greenhouse gas, and a considerable quantity leaks into the atmosphere during its production and transport.  Estimates suggest that such leaks are comparable in their climate effect to those of cement production or iron- and steelmaking.  Here’s a quick take on what might be done to limit these three sources.

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