Microsoft just invested in a cement startup that turns CO2 into literal building blocks

A generic clement block. By creating bolt-on technology that can be fitted to existing cement plants, Fortera can create a cement product made out of reabsorbed CO2 that’s up to 70% less carbon intensive than creating traditional Portland cement (even if the plant is powered by less-than-sustainable energy sources). — Unsplash

There’s hardly anything on this planet that’s more widely in demand than concrete. And while we need the essential building material for infrastructure, housing, and beyond, it comes at a high climate cost. 

Production of cement, the glue that holds concrete together, doubled globally between 2003 to 2013, and has since plateaued. Even without rapid growth, its carbon footprint is incredibly significant at around 8% of global carbon emissions. Every ton of Portland cement produced – that’s the most common type of cement in construction today – creates nearly the same amount of CO2 emissions.