ETH Zurich links heatwaves to fossil fuel and cement emissions

A study published in Nature by researchers at ETH Zurich has identified a direct link between greenhouse gas emissions from the world’s largest fossil fuel and cement producers and the rising frequency and severity of global heatwaves.

Led by Professor Sonia Seneviratne, the research analysed over 200 heatwaves between 2000 and 2023 and traced their increased likelihood and intensity to emissions from 180 major carbon-producing companies — including cement manufacturers.

The study found that these “carbon majors” are collectively responsible for around 60% of all human CO₂ emissions since 1850, with their activities making recent heatwaves up to 200 times more likely than in pre-industrial times. Fourteen of the largest emitters, including several cement producers, contributed as much to global temperature rise as the remaining 166 entities combined.

The findings underscore the cement sector’s dual challenge: it remains essential for global infrastructure while being one of the most carbon-intensive industries. The research strengthens calls for accelerating carbon capture, alternative binders, and low-clinker materials — areas central to ongoing decarbonisation efforts in UK and European concrete production.

Lead author Yann Quilcaille said the work highlights corporate accountability: “These companies have pursued their economic interests even though they’ve long known that their activities drive global warming. Our data make it possible to quantify that impact for specific events.”

The ETH Zurich team now plans to extend its attribution studies to other climate extremes such as floods, droughts, and wildfires, which increasingly threaten global supply chains and the built environment.

The study directly implicates cement production as a major driver of climate-related heat extremes, reinforcing the urgency for low-carbon concrete technologies and corporate accountability in emissions reporting. It provides valuable context for UK producers working toward net-zero cement, alternative fuels, and carbon capture and storage initiatives.