Renewable power capacity in net zero pathways for heavy industry is projected to climb to 201 gigawatts by 2030, yet carbon cuts still hinge on what happens inside cement kilns and steel furnaces. Cement accounts for 66% of its emissions from calcination, while 53% of steel GHG output is tied to blast furnace and basic oxygen routes. The same gap appears in reporting and readiness, with only 38% of EU cement companies covering a whole value chain climate target.
Key Takeaways
- 3.6% of global greenhouse-gas emissions came from the mining and quarrying sector in 2018 (the sector’s direct share of global GHG emissions).
- 66% of cement industry emissions are from the calcination process (share of emissions by source within cement).
- 53% of steel industry GHG emissions are linked to blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace routes (share of emissions by production route).
- In 2023, global cement production was about 4.1 billion tonnes (recent production level).
- In 2022, the EU’s ETS cap for 2021–2030 averages about 1.57 billion tonnes of CO2e per year (annual average aviation ETS removed; for ETS overall cap).
- 2020 global tracked assets under management for ESG-focused funds reached US$35.3 trillion (proxy for capital availability for sustainability-linked investment).
- In 2022, global industrial energy efficiency improvements could save 4 exajoules per year by 2030 (IEA energy efficiency savings potential).
- In 2023, 64% of manufacturing organizations had adopted at least one energy management system aligned with ISO 50001 (survey result).
- ISO 50001 certificates globally exceeded 60,000 by 2023 (number of ISO 50001 certificates).
- A 2023 review found CCUS can reduce cement-sector CO2 emissions by 70–90% with high capture rates (capture/abatement range).
- A 2020 peer-reviewed meta-analysis found industrial process optimization projects reduced energy use by a median of 15% (energy intensity reduction).
- A 2021 study reported that blast furnace gas recovery and utilization can reduce overall energy consumption by 3–10% in steel plants (energy reduction range).
- 5–8% of global CO2 emissions come from the cement industry (cement process emissions plus fuel combustion)
- 2.7% of global greenhouse-gas emissions are from mining and quarrying (direct emissions share, 2019)
- 35% of global energy-related CO2 emissions are attributable to industry
Heavy industry must cut emissions fast through electrification, cleaner routes, and energy efficiency.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends14 stats
01
3.6% of global greenhouse-gas emissions came from the mining and quarrying sector in 2018 (the sector’s direct share of global GHG emissions).
02
66% of cement industry emissions are from the calcination process (share of emissions by source within cement).
03
53% of steel industry GHG emissions are linked to blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace routes (share of emissions by production route).
04
In 2022, 44% of EU metal production companies used the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to report climate-related financial risk (CDP Europe 2022 survey result).
05
In 2022, 38% of EU cement companies reported having a climate target covering their whole value chain (CDP Europe 2022 survey result for cement).
06
$1.4 trillion of annual energy-related CO2 emissions in the industry sector are addressable through energy efficiency improvements (global energy efficiency potential estimate by IEA).
07
By 2050, net-zero pathways require 40–60% of global cement to be produced with lower-clinker or with CCUS (share requirement).
08
By 2050, net-zero pathways require 35–45% of global steel to be produced via low-carbon routes (hydrogen DRI and EAF with high scrap) (share requirement).
09
201 gigawatts of renewable power capacity are forecast to be required by 2030 for net-zero pathways in heavy industries (renewables capacity requirement in IEA net zero roadmap context).
10
2.0% of global primary energy use is in the cement sector (cement share of global primary energy).
11
Between 2017 and 2022, the average carbon intensity of electricity generation in the OECD fell by 7% (trend in electricity emissions intensity).
12
In 2021, China produced about 53% of the world’s crude steel (share of global steel).
13
Electric arc furnace steel can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60% compared with blast furnace routes under typical conditions (comparison figure).
14
Hydrogen-based DRI with renewable electricity can reduce steel CO2 emissions by up to 80–95% compared to blast furnace BF-BOF (abatement range).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
For the Industry Trends angle, the numbers show that decarbonizing heavy industry hinges on shifting core processes, since cement emissions are 66 percent from calcination and steel emissions 53 percent from blast furnace routes, while net zero pathways call for 40 to 60 percent of cement and 35 to 45 percent of steel to come from lower carbon production by 2050.
02 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
In 2023, global cement production was about 4.1 billion tonnes (recent production level).
02
In 2022, the EU’s ETS cap for 2021–2030 averages about 1.57 billion tonnes of CO2e per year (annual average aviation ETS removed; for ETS overall cap).
03
2020 global tracked assets under management for ESG-focused funds reached US$35.3 trillion (proxy for capital availability for sustainability-linked investment).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
With global cement production running at about 4.1 billion tonnes in 2023 and the EU ETS cap averaging roughly 1.57 billion tonnes of CO2e per year, the sustainability market for heavy industry is being driven by both massive real world activity and sizeable carbon pricing signals, supported by US$35.3 trillion in 2020 ESG-focused fund assets under management.
03 · Category
Cost Analysis1 stats
01
In 2022, global industrial energy efficiency improvements could save 4 exajoules per year by 2030 (IEA energy efficiency savings potential).
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In the cost analysis for heavy industry, improving global industrial energy efficiency could save 4 exajoules of energy per year by 2030, which points to major potential cost reductions for the sector.
04 · Category
User Adoption2 stats
01
In 2023, 64% of manufacturing organizations had adopted at least one energy management system aligned with ISO 50001 (survey result).
02
ISO 50001 certificates globally exceeded 60,000 by 2023 (number of ISO 50001 certificates).
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
In the user adoption landscape for heavy industry, 64% of manufacturing organizations had already adopted at least one ISO 50001-aligned energy management system in 2023, and with global ISO 50001 certificates surpassing 60,000 the momentum shows widespread uptake.
05 · Category
Performance Metrics6 stats
01
A 2023 review found CCUS can reduce cement-sector CO2 emissions by 70–90% with high capture rates (capture/abatement range).
02
A 2020 peer-reviewed meta-analysis found industrial process optimization projects reduced energy use by a median of 15% (energy intensity reduction).
03
A 2021 study reported that blast furnace gas recovery and utilization can reduce overall energy consumption by 3–10% in steel plants (energy reduction range).
04
A 2022 study reported that clinker replacement strategies can reduce cement’s CO2 emissions by 20–50% depending on substitution rate (CO2 reduction range).
05
A 2019 life-cycle assessment found that renewable-powered electrified cement kilns can reduce lifecycle GHG emissions by about 50–80% versus conventional coal kilns (abatement).
06
A 2021 LCA study found that recycled steel in EAF routes can reduce lifecycle GHG emissions by about 20–35% versus BF-BOF with comparable quality (LCA reduction).
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Across heavy industry performance metrics, the strongest trend is that targeted decarbonization and efficiency measures consistently deliver large emissions and energy cuts, including cement CCUS cutting CO2 by 70 to 90% and process optimization lowering energy use by a median 15%, with complementary gains like 20 to 50% CO2 reductions from clinker replacement and 20 to 35% lifecycle GHG cuts from recycled steel in EAF routes.
More related reading
06 · Category
Emissions Baselines3 stats
01
5–8% of global CO2 emissions come from the cement industry (cement process emissions plus fuel combustion)
02
2.7% of global greenhouse-gas emissions are from mining and quarrying (direct emissions share, 2019)
03
35% of global energy-related CO2 emissions are attributable to industry
Interpretation
Emissions Baselines Interpretation
Under the emissions baselines framing, heavy industry is a major share of the climate problem, with cement alone contributing 5–8% of global CO2 emissions and industry accounting for 35% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, alongside mining and quarrying at 2.7% of global greenhouse-gas emissions.
07 · Category
Decarbonization Levers3 stats
01
1.9% of global electricity is used by data centers and associated IT in 2023 (forecasted to rise), increasing demand for grid power that affects decarbonization opportunities for electrified heavy industry
02
75% of the world’s emissions reduction is required from direct sector decarbonization (rather than offsets) in net-zero system pathways, implying levers for heavy industry
03
41% of global steel production facilities are located in emerging economies (share relevant to technology adoption and financing needs)
Interpretation
Decarbonization Levers Interpretation
As decarbonization pathways increasingly depend on direct sector action for 75% of emissions reductions, the looming rise in electricity use from data centers and associated IT from 1.9% in 2023 could tighten grid decarbonization windows while the fact that 41% of steel production facilities sit in emerging economies underscores the need for targeted financing and technology adoption as part of these decarbonization levers.
08 · Category
Technology Adoption3 stats
01
As of 2023, 11% of global cement plants used alternative fuels (share relevant to combustion decarbonization readiness)
02
Hydrogen produced by electrolysis accounted for 1.2% of global hydrogen production in 2022 (adoption base for hydrogen-based DRI supply)
03
As of 2024, 5.0% of global steel capacity is in EAF-based production routes (capacity share indicates readiness for electrification)
Interpretation
Technology Adoption Interpretation
In the technology adoption race for heavy industry decarbonization, only 11% of cement plants and 5.0% of steel capacity are already positioned to switch fuels or routes, while hydrogen for DRI remains early at just 1.2% of global production, signaling slow but growing uptake of enabling technologies.
09 · Category
Finance & Investment1 stats
01
$300 billion per year in additional investment is needed for low-carbon industrial technologies by 2030 (investment gap supporting heavy industry decarbonization)
Interpretation
Finance & Investment Interpretation
Heavy industry will need an additional $300 billion per year in investment for low carbon industrial technologies by 2030, making sustained finance a decisive driver of decarbonization under the Finance & Investment lens.
10 · Category
Policy & Governance1 stats
01
EU ETS covers about 36% of the EU’s GHG emissions (carbon price coverage relevant to heavy industry compliance)
Interpretation
Policy & Governance Interpretation
From a Policy and Governance perspective, the EU ETS covering about 36% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions shows that heavy industry compliance is significantly shaped by carbon pricing rules rather than voluntary measures alone.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Heavy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-heavy-industry-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Sustainability In The Heavy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-heavy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Sustainability In The Heavy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-heavy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+20 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)