The UNEP Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is co-organizing the first-ever Africa Dialogue on Cement for Green Industrialization. Hosted by the Ministry of Industry of Ethiopia, the event is organized alongside UNIDO's Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI), the Climate Club's Global Matchmaking Platform, Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), EPFL, and KAS, with support from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
The Dialogue will convene a wide range of stakeholders — from government representatives, cement producers, and financial institutions to development partners, universities, and construction sector actors — all united around a shared ambition: defining practical, low-carbon pathways for Africa's cement sector.
Why Cement Matters for Africa's Climate Future
The cement and concrete sector is one of the most emissions-intensive industries in the world, accounting for approximately 8% of global COâ‚‚ emissions. While decarbonization of this sector is a global imperative, the urgency is especially pronounced in Africa.
The continent is on the brink of a substantial construction boom driven by population growth, rapid urbanization, and economic development. According to the
Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), Africa's total building floor area is expected to double by 2050. This projected growth will significantly increase demand for cement and concrete across the continent, and without targeted interventions, will lead to a sharp rise in emissions.
This presents a unique opportunity. As demand for cement grows, the choices made today will shape Africa's industrial and infrastructure development for decades to come. By integrating low-carbon solutions early, countries can meet development goals while building a more sustainable and competitive cement sector.
This Dialogue is the first continent-wide event dedicated to exploring Africa's cement decarbonization landscape and advancing practical pathways for implementation.
CTCN's Role: The Climate Innovation in Cement and Concrete (CICC) Programme
The CTCN's engagement in the Dialogue reflects its broader commitment to supporting African countries in transforming their cement and construction sectors. As a partner of the
Cement and Concrete Breakthrough Agenda, the global initiative driving coordinated action to accelerate decarbonization across the sector, the CTCN contributes technical expertise and country-level support to advance its goals.
Through the Climate Innovation in Cement and Concrete (CICC) programme, the CTCN works with National Designated Entities (NDEs) and government partners across Africa to deliver targeted technical assistance, helping countries assess decarbonization options, strengthen policy frameworks, and connect with relevant technologies and expertise. This includes prior work in
South Africa on waste heat recovery and CCU and in
Algeria on alternative fuels, as well as current technical assistance projects on developing national cement decarbonization roadmaps in
Senegal and
Zimbabwe. The Africa Cement Dialogue offers a unique opportunity to bring together countries that have benefited from CTCN technical assistance, those currently engaged in CICC.
The programme of the Dialogue will be published shortly.
