Drivers to Climate Change Mitigation Strategies in the Cement Industry in India: A Framework based on Interpretive Structural Modeling

Abstract

Cement manufacturing is recognized as one of the most energy-intensive and high-emission industries worldwide. India ranks as the second-largest producer and consumer of cement globally. Within the country, the cement sector is currently the third-highest in energy consumption and the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The ongoing release of GHGs significantly contributes to global warming and severe climate change. As a result, the cement industry faces increasing pressure to curb its emissions. This study aims to investigate the key factors influencing climate change mitigation strategies within India’s cement sector. To achieve this, Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) has been employed to analyze and structure these drivers. The ISM method is used to establish the interrelationships among the drivers associated with climate mitigation efforts. The findings reveal a total of thirty drivers linked to mitigation practices. The ISM analysis ranks these drivers based on their driving power, showing that those with high driving power but low dependency are foundational and occupy the lowest levels in the ISM hierarchy. These core drivers should be prioritized when designing and implementing climate mitigation strategies within the Indian cement industry.