In 2022, on average, every tonne of steel produced led to the emission of 1.91 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. 1,885 million tonnes (Mt) of steel were produced that year, leading to total direct emissions from the steel industry of around 3.6 billion tonnes of CO2, representing between 7% and 9% of global emissions.
The production of steel is clearly a CO2 and energy-intensive industrial activity. However, the steel industry fully supports the aims of the Paris Agreement and is committed to continuing to reduce the footprint from its operations and the use of its products.
Along with the Breakthrough Technology Conference, worldsteel’s Open Forum is one of two annual events that come under the umbrella of Climate Action.
worldsteel’s Open Forum provides a platform to engage with stakeholders across the steelmaking ecosystem on issues related to the industry’s decarbonisation.
We believe that to make progress, discussions on climate change should involve the entire steel value chain including policymakers, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, international organisations, academia and more. The journey towards a sustainable society is one we need to take together.
Important topics of discussion include the policies needed to accelerate the transition, what methods and methodologies should be used to track the transition, what are the raw materials and energy requirements, how do we finance the change needed, and how to develop and shape the market for low-carbon steel.