<
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-07-22/end-of-china-s-cement-boom-is-good-for-the-planet?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTcyMzAwMDg4MywiZXhwIjoxNzIzNjA1NjgzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTSDFHVDBUMEcxS1cwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIyQUU2NkEzRDc2MzA0MkRBQjgwMzI1NDBBOTQ4OTAyOCJ9.2E-Z39AANgG__1hDwRfWq4Ilj3J7V9_S8UJ8eoF5qbY>
"Imagine if France, or Taiwan, or the United Arab Emirates eliminated their
carbon dioxide emissions in a couple of years — and no one noticed. Something
similar is happening with China’s construction sector.
Cement production has been collapsing ever since the real estate bubble popped
in 2021. Despite signs that the housing market may finally be stabilizing, the
decline has accelerated this year: First-half output fell 10.8% from a year
earlier. That suggests full-year total will be in the region of 1.85 billion
metric tons — roughly 20% below the average 2.34 billion tons in the decade
through 2021, and the lowest since 2009.
In climate terms, that’s a hugely significant drop. Concrete is one of the most
polluting materials. For every 100 tons of Portland cement, about 57 tons of
carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, and the sector worldwide
accounts for about 8% of emissions. China consumes half the total, so a 20%
fall in local cement output translates into a decline in global carbon
pollution of nearly 1%.
There’s little sign of a stimulus sufficient to cause a blowout second half.
Shares in major cement producers have fallen since the close of the Communist
Party’s Third Plenum meeting last week, indicating investors see little reason
to expect government support. Furthermore, usage of building materials so far
outstrips what we see in every other major economy that it’s hard to see it
ever regaining the levels seen in the past."
Via
Fix the News:
<
https://fixthenews.com/good-news-healthcare-americas-smoking-in-indonesia-hunger-in-brazil/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
