Advancing Cement and Concrete Decarbonization in Latin America: A Regional Dialogue
From 11-13 May 2026, leaders from government, industry, and international organizations will gather for the Regional Dialogue on the Decarbonization of Cement and Concrete in Latin America and the Caribbean, a key moment to accelerate action in one of the most emissions-intensive sectors.
Organized by UNIDO and the Net Zero Partnership, and supported by the Climate Club and the Global Matchmaking Platform (GMP), the dialogue aims to move beyond ambition and focus on what it takes to implement industrial decarbonization in practice.
Agenda
Why this dialogue matters
Cement and concrete are foundational to development, yet they also represent a major climate challenge.
Cement production alone accounts for around 8% of global CO₂ emissions
Demand is projected to increase by 50% by 2050, reaching 4.6 billion metric tons annually
In Latin America, demand is expected to grow by 40–60% by mid-century
At the same time, the region presents a unique opportunity: consumption levels remain below the global average, creating space to scale low-carbon solutions early in the growth curve.
Achieving this transition will require not only technological innovation, but also coordinated action across policy, finance, and industry value chains.
The role of the Global Matchmaking Platform
As a key support mechanism of the Climate Club, the Global Matchmaking Platform plays a central role in this dialogue.
GMP is designed to connect country needs with technical, financial, and implementation partners, helping translate decarbonization ambitions into concrete projects.
In this context, the dialogue provides an opportunity to:
Identify country-driven priorities in the cement and concrete sector
Facilitate connections with delivery partners
Support the development of implementation-ready pipelines
By bringing together governments, industry actors, and development partners, GMP helps ensure that conversations like this lead to tangible outcomes and long-term collaboration.
A collaborative effort
The dialogue is organized in collaboration with leading organizations across the ecosystem, including:
The Interamerican Cement Federation (FICEM)
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA)
The Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI)
and supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
From dialogue to action
As demand for cement and concrete continues to grow, especially in emerging and developing economies, the challenge is clear: how to meet development needs while transitioning to low-carbon production.
This Regional Dialogue is a step toward answering that question, by aligning stakeholders, identifying solutions, and strengthening the partnerships needed to move from plans to implementation.