Why climate’s hardest problem might need a carbon market

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Heatmap or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Microsoft is spearheading the development of a carbon market for low-carbon cement to overcome supply challenges in sustainable construction
• The company will buy "environmental attribute certificates" from startups like Sublime Systems, allowing it to claim reduced emissions without directly using the low-carbon cement

🔭 The context: Cement, responsible for 6% of global emissions, is a critical material in construction. While low-carbon alternatives exist, they are not widely accessible
• Microsoft's move creates a market that helps clean cement startups scale production, bridging the gap between demand and availability

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Scaling the use of low-carbon cement is essential to reducing emissions in one of the most carbon-intensive industries, helping to meet global climate goals

⏭️ What's next: Microsoft’s initiative may inspire broader adoption of "book and claim" markets in other carbon-intensive industries, though it raises concerns about potential double-counting of environmental claims

💬 One quote: “This problem of cement emissions is so intractable... We need to make cement more visible,” — Leah Ellis, CEO of Sublime Systems

📈 One stat: Cement is responsible for 6% of global carbon emissions

Click for more news covering the latest on carbon