What water is to life, cement W is to the modern world. Since it was developed two centuries ago during an experiment by British bricklayer Joseph Aspdin, who heated a mix of limestone and clay to form a fine powder that hardened when exposed to water, cement has become the foundation of modern civilisation. Today it is the second most used material after water. Globally, a person uses 530 kg of cement on average in a year. The dependence on this robust and versatile construction material can be gauged from the fact that an individual in India consumes more than double the amount of cement than the staple food, rice-240 kg of cement in a year against 102 kg of rice.
The problem is that this staple of the modern life is also a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Production of 1 kg of cement releases almost an equal amount up to 0.8 kg-of carbon dioxide (CO₂). According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the sector is considered to be the second largest industrial emitter in the world, and contributes about 7 per cent of CO₂ emissions globally. To put it in perspective, if the cement industry were a country it would be the third-largest emitter of CO,, after the US and China.
Denne historien er fra August 01, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra August 01, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara