In September 2021, Governor Newson signed Senate Bill (SB) 596 (Becker), which requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB), by July 1, 2023, to develop a comprehensive strategy for cement use in California to achieve a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity 40% below baseline levels by 2035 and net-zero GHG emissions by 2045. This workshop is part of the process to develop the strategy pursuant to SB 596.

At the kick-off workshop in October 2022, CARB staff discussed a variety of potential GHG reduction opportunities available for California’s cement sector. This workshop will focus on opportunities to decarbonize cement use in California and barriers to implementing those opportunities. The agenda includes a CARB staff presentation and presentations from panelists representing perspectives throughout the decision-making chain for cement and concrete use, including views from project owners, project engineers, concrete producers, and local and state agencies that have a role in facilitating the use of low-carbon cement. The presentations will be followed by a discussion and Q&A session.

Date:                 May 31, 2023
Time:                 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location:           Remote Only

Workshop Registration

Register

Remote participants will need to register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to access the meeting. Participants will be able to provide comments and ask questions during the workshop. 

Background

SB 596 was signed by Governor Newsom in September 2021. It requires CARB, by July 1, 2023, to develop a comprehensive strategy for cement use in California to achieve a GHG intensity 40% below 2019 levels by 2035 and net-zero GHG emissions by 2045.

More cement is the used throughout the world each year than any other manufactured material, and cement also has one of the highest GHG-intensities of any manufactured material. Regions will continue to rely heavily on cement and concrete, so reducing the GHG-intensity of cement is a crucial piece of overall industrial decarbonization. GHG emissions from cement manufacturing are about seven percent of global GHG emissions. The seven cement plants currently operating in California produce over 9 million metric tons of cement per year. In 2019, direct GHG emissions from cement manufacturing in California were 7.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing 8.8 percent of industrial sector GHG emissions in California.

Relevant materials will be available on CARB’s SB 596 meetings and workshops webpage prior to the workshop.

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