Task Force Descriptions

The Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) Agenda for Action highlights six critical issues that have been tackled over the last five years. Both joint and individual activities are required to deliver the commitments in the Agenda. A Task Force was established for each issue to complete the joint activities. Task Force members include cement company participants in the Initiative as well as other organizations that were able to contribute substantively to the work program. Individual companies are committed to the individual activities laid out in the Agenda, and will report publicly on their progress.

Task Force 1: Climate Protection

The Climate Protection Task Force (TF1) aims to improve the quality of public information available, particularly for companies working to manage emissions accounting, emissions limitations, and emissions trading. The Task Force initially created a CO2 Accounting Protocol in cooperation with the World Resources Institute. (See www.wbcsdcement.org/pdf/co2-protocol.pdf)

In June 2005, the Task Force produced a protocol for measuring and reporting CO₂ emissions that is consistent with the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol. This protocol is intended as a tool for cement companies worldwide. It provides a harmonized methodology for calculating CO₂ emissions, with a view to reporting these emissions for various purposes. It addresses all direct and the main indirect sources of CO₂ emissions related to the cement manufacturing process in absolute as well as specific or unit-based terms.

Task Force Leader: Bruno Vanderborght, Holcim, Switzerland (bruno.vanderborght@holcim.com) Co-leader: Marco Bedoya, CEMEX, Switzerland, (Marco)

Task Force 2: Responsible Use of Fuels and Raw Materials

The Fuels and Raw Materials Task Force 2 (TF2) has developed good practice guidelines on the responsible use of fuels and raw materials, with particular emphasis on the use of alternative fuels and materials as substitutes for conventional fossil fuels and limestone. While these alternative materials are widely used, they are not without controversy. Active stakeholder involvement helped to understand and address concerns raised by some local communities and NGOs, and to develop these guidelines.

Task Force Leader: Eric Dambrine, Italcementi, France (e.dambrine@itcgr.net)

Task Force 3: Employee Health and Safety

The Employee Health and Safety Task Force (TF3) developed common standards and cross-company systems to measure, monitor and report on health and safety performance, which the individual companies can then implement. TF3 also exchanges information so that companies can share their experience quickly, identify common causes of injuries and reduce accidents.

Task Force Leader: Jim O'Brien, CRH, Ireland, (JO'Brien@crh.com)

Task Force 4: Emissions Reduction

The Emission Reduction Task Force (TF4) developed good practice guidelines on monitoring and reporting significant emissions from cement manufacturing operations. Individual companies will set their own emission targets and report publicly on progress in meeting those targets

Task Force Leader: Bernd Haegermann, HeidelbergCement, Germany (Bernd.Haegermann@htc-gmbh.com )

Task Force 5: Local Impacts

The Local Impacts Task Force (TF5) developed guidelines for environmental and social impact assessment studies for the cement sector, to be applied to new projects. The guidelines cover both cement plants and associated quarries. Initial work on the guidelines was completed with help from Manchester University's Environmental Impact Assessment Center in Manchester, UK.

Task Force Leader: Vicky Gazideli, Lafarge / Heracles, Greece, (gazideliv@aget.gr)

Task Force 6: Reporting and Communication

This Task Force manages overall communications for the CSI with external audiences. Its members, primarily, communication specialists from the member cement companies, are also responsible for communicating the CSI principles within their individual companies. It oversees preparation of public progress reports about the Initiative.

Co-Leader: Barbara Dubach, Holcim, Switzerland (barbara.dubach@holcim.com)
Co-Leader: R. Caldeira, Cimpor, Portugal, (raoulcaldeira@cimpor.pt)