Climate Lobbying Overview: The European Cement Association (CEMBUREAU) is strategically engaged with EU regulation, taking mostly negative positions on climate change policy. The organization takes more positive positions on top line ambition since 2018, such as the EU 2050 climate neutrality goal, but remains negatively engaged on key policies such as the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: CEMBUREAU takes mixed positions on climate policy in its top-line messaging, stressing concerns regarding impacts on international competitiveness. The association supported the European Green Deal and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in the EU, in a position paper in July 2021. However, in a joint statement in February 2022, CEMBUREAU seemed to stress the risks of unilateral action on climate by Europe on carbon leakage and international industrial competitiveness. In a joint industry position in October 2021, CEMBUREAU stated support for the EU’s Fit for 55 package but advocated that policies should be efficient, achievable and should not undermine the international competitiveness of EU industry.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: CEMBUREAU seems to have mostly negative engagement with specific climate regulations. In response to an EU consultation in April 2020 the association did not seem to support increasing the 2030 Climate Target above 40%, stressing carbon leakage and the need to respect the current legal framework.

In February 2022, in a joint statement with energy-intensive industry, CEMBUREAU did not support proposed reforms to the EU ETS, such as the strengthening of the Market Stability Reserve and rebasing of the ETS cap. It also pushed to maintain the current system of free allocation of emissions allowances for industry. In the same February 2022 statement, the association did not support the EU Commission’s proposal to phase out the free allocation of emissions allowances in the EU ETS alongside the introduction of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Instead, CEMBUREAU advocated for the maintenance of free allowances and indirect cost compensation until at least 2030, as well as the inclusion of export rebates.

CEMBUREAU seems to broadly support energy efficiency regulation. In response to an EU public consultation in November 2021, CEMBUREAU supported ambitious renovation legislation to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. However, it also advocated that the Energy Performance of Buildings directive be based on material neutrality and life-cycle analysis approach, which would broaden the policies' focus away from cement’s emissions-intensive production process and potentially dampen incentives for bio-based materials. The association advocated for coherence between these regulations focusing on buildings, and the reform of the Energy Efficiency Directive in a position paper in May 2021. CEMBUREAU advocated to increase the renewable energy target and include binding national targets in the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive in response to an EU public consultation in February 2021, but also promoted expanding what is considered as renewable in the Renewable Energy Directive to include ‘low-carbon’ fuels. In a February 2022 position paper, the association did not support the proposed reform to remove exemptions for waste biomass within the bioenergy sustainability criteria.

Positioning on Energy Transition: CEMBUREAU communicates broad support for the decarbonization of industry and supports specific regulation, but with major exceptions. In July 2021, the CEO Koen Coppenholle supported the Fit for 55 package to boost low-carbon technologies and advocated for a regulatory framework and investments to decarbonize industry. However, in response to an EU public consultation in November 2021, the association did not support the removal of exemptions for energy used for mineralogical processes in the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive which aimed to align energy taxation with the energy transition. CEMBUREAU also intensely directly lobbied EU policymakers in opposition to the removal of the cement sector from the list of industries eligible for exemptions from electricity levies in the Environmental and Energy State Aid Guidelines throughout 2021.