Application of a system dynamics approach for assessment and mitigation of CO2 emissions from the cement industry

A system dynamics model based on the dynamic interactions among a number of system components is developed to estimate CO2 emissions from the cement industry in India. The CO2 emissions are projected to reach 396.89 million tonnes by the year 2020 if the existing cement making technological options are followed. Policy options of population growth stabilisation, energy conservation and structural management in cement manufacturing processes are incorporated for developing the CO2 mitigation scenarios. A 42% reduction in the CO2 emissions can be achieved in the year 2020 based on an integrated mitigation scenario. Indirect CO2 emissions from the transport of raw materials to the cement plants and finished product to market are also estimated.