On June 13th and 14th, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) CEO Gathering and Leaders Conference was held in Zurich, Switzerland. Huaxin Cement CEO Li Yeqing, along with over 140 executives from global cement companies such as Holcim, Heidelberg, Cemex, and representatives from regional cement associations, attended the conference. The participants engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges on topics related to carbon reduction, net-zero emissions, and other relevant themes aimed at driving sustainability in the cement industry.

Officials and experts including António Guterres United Nations Secretary-General, Catherine McKenna, member of the UN High-level Expert Group on the Net-zero Emission Commitments of Non-Sate Entities, and Dr. Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of the Industry and Economy Division of UN Environment Programme, were also invited to participate in relevant meetings.

During the conference on June 13th, President Li Yeqing, as the representative from China, was invited to participate in the Regional focused CEO Action Panel. He engaged in dialogues with cement industry leaders around the world, discussed topics such as low-carbon transformation actions and challenges. Li Yeqing provided a brief overview of Huaxin Cement's action plan, carbon reduction goals, and key pathways for carbon reduction. By the end of 2022, Huaxin has cumulatively used over 15 million tons of waste-derived alternative fuels, and the average TSR of the company's kiln factories has reached 15.9%, far higher than the average of 1.5% in China's cement industry. The Huaxin most advanced cement plant (Capacity 12,000tp in Huangshi) has achieved a TSR of over 40%, making it the lowest carbon emissions for clinker line in China. He said that by 2030, Huaxin’s carbon emissions per unit of product value will be reduced by more than 70% compared to 2005.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized in his keynote speech that cement remains the foundation for “building a better world.” He stated that the latest data shows a decline in global carbon emissions due to the efforts of GCCA members in implementing carbon reduction measures. However, he emphasized that overcoming numerous challenges is essential to achieve net-zero emissions. During the meeting, he joined forces with leaders from major cement and concrete manufacturers to issue a collective call to commit and take action towards achieving the net-zero emissions goal by 2050.

The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) was established in January 2018. Its members include global cement and concrete manufacturers, aiming to collaborate with industry associations, architects, engineers and innovators to enhance the industry's contribution to sustainability. All members of the association have collectively committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This makes the cement and concrete industry the first heavy industry sector to develop such a detailed plan to help keep global warming within 1.5°C.