Background information

Energy-intensive industries, such as cement, are vital to Europe's economy, supplying several key value chains. It is crucial to decarbonise and modernise this sector. Cement companies are aware of their responsibility in the transition towards climate neutrality, in the rational management of resources and in the needs of environmental protection. The Spanish cement sector expresses its support and cooperation to work together to achieve the climate change goals and challenges.

Content of measure

Emission reductions will be achieved by improving energy efficiency, enhancing the use of waste as fuel or developing carbon storage, capture and use technologies. This Agreement encourages research and implementation of energy efficiency projects and the replacement of fossil fuels with alternative fuels. The business side commits to carry out such projects to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases.

The management of the factories will inform their respective workers' representatives about the actions carried out as a result of this Agreement, facilitating their participation in issues related to the prevention of occupational hazards and the environment. In addition, a State Monitoring Committee for the Agreement has been set up.

Use of measure

It applies to all companies in the sector.

Contents

• Other topics

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Particular professions	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Trade unions Employers' organisations	Companies Employers organisation

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

The social partners are protagonists and active participants in this measure. It is an agreement signed, on the one hand, by the business organisation OFICEMEN, representing the companies in the sector, and on the other hand, by the trade union organisations CC.OO. del Hábitat (section of Comisiones Obreras related to construction and services related to the home) and UGT-FICA (section of Unión General de los Trabajadores related to Industry, Construction and Agriculture), representing the workforce affected.

Views and reactions

The signatory parties (business organisation OFICEMEN and the trade unions CCOO and UGT) fully support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development together with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the objectives of the European Green Pact and the legislative and other initiatives related to the Pact, to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy with no net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The signatory parties, as social partners directly involved in all environmental and public health aspects that may be generated by these installations, consider that sectoral agreements are an appropriate instrument to address matters of common interest for companies in the sector and trade union centres and show their willingness to continue to promote this type of agreement.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 10 August 2023: IV Agreement for the transition to climate neutrality in the cement sector (www.boe.es)