New Delhi: The Global Cement and Concrete Association India–NCB Carbon uptake report was released during the 63rd Foundation Day celebrations of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials, marking a key step in assessing carbon absorption by concrete in India.
The report was unveiled at an event attended by senior officials and industry representatives. Economic Advisor to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Urmila, IES, and Special Director General of the Central Public Works Department, Mohd. Kamal Ahmad, also inaugurated a Gypsum Board Testing Laboratory and a Micro-Characterisation Laboratory on the occasion. NCB Director General L. P. Singh was present at the event.
Officials said the new Gypsum Board Testing Laboratory would strengthen quality assurance and standardisation for the gypsum board sector. The facility aligns with the Gypsum-Based Building Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024, notified by DPIIT. At the same time, the Micro-Characterisation Laboratory will support advanced analysis of cementitious and construction materials using modern analytical tools.
Addressing the gathering, Urmila highlighted NCB’s continued role in research, technology development, quality assurance and capacity building. She said these efforts supported the changing needs of India’s cement and construction sectors. Mohd. Kamal Ahmad also praised NCB for promoting sustainable construction through focused research and development initiatives.
Carbon uptake report highlights CO₂ absorption by concrete
The Carbon uptake report examined the extent of carbon dioxide absorption through carbonation in concrete under Indian conditions. Prepared jointly by NCB and the Global Cement and Concrete Association India, the study followed the Tier-I methodology developed by the IVL Swedish Environment Research Institute.
The report noted that the cement industry accounts for about 7 per cent of total anthropogenic emissions worldwide. It added that the sector remained hard to abate due to process-related emissions generated during limestone calcination.
However, the report pointed out that concrete structures gradually absorb CO₂ over their lifecycle. This process partially offsets emissions from cement production. Therefore, the assessment provides an important basis for more accurate climate accounting in the construction sector.
The study also outlined future actions to improve data quality and refine estimation methods. In addition, it proposed steps to integrate carbon uptake into national sustainability and climate reporting frameworks. Officials said NCB would submit the report to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for consideration as a carbon sink in India’s National Communications to the UNFCCC.
NCB officials said the findings would help policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders better understand the role of concrete in carbon management. They added that the initiative aligned with India’s broader goals on sustainable development and climate action.
