An international group of leading steel manufacturers, including Nucor, Steel Dynamics, and CELSA Group, has formed a coalition to urge the United States and European Union to adopt a global emission standard that incentivizes steelmakers to use the cleanest steel production process available.
The new coalition – the Global Steel Climate Council (GSCC) – supports a global standard that accelerates the transition to low-emission steel and recognizes the potential of the recycled, circular steel model to reduce carbon emissions.
"We have the technology to reduce carbon emissions in steel production by 70% today."
Leon Topalian, chair, president, and CEO of Nucor Corporation
"We have the technology to reduce carbon emissions in steel production by 70% today," said Leon Topalian, chair, president, and CEO of Nucor Corporation, a founding member of the Council. "The global industry needs to build on the innovation that has already led to cleaner steel production in the United States because the green and digital economies around the world are going to be built with steel, and the steel they are built with matters."
''This new standard will accelerate the actual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and provide key decisionmakers with accurate data to make informed decisions."
Mark D. Millett, chairman, president, and CEO of Steel Dynamics, chairman of the Steel Manufacturers Association
"Steel is essential for our economies, including the world's essential infrastructure. This new standard will accelerate the actual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and provide key decisionmakers with accurate data to make informed decisions," said Mark D. Millett, chairman, president, and CEO of Steel Dynamics, chairman of the Steel Manufacturers Association, and a founding member of the Council.
The primary focus of the GSCC is to establish a standard, focusing on the following guiding principles:
- Reducing GHG emissions from the global steel industry.
- Establishing a standard that is technology/production method agnostic.
- Establishing a standard that has a system boundary that includes Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
- Establishing a standard that aligns with a science-based glide path to achieve a 1.5 degree scenario by the year 2050.
- Providing relevant information on sustainable steelmaking to appropriate decisionmakers.
''The GSCC single standard will encourage all producers to reduce their carbon emissions and create a level playing field for all manufacturers.''
Philip K. Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association
"The GSCC single standard will encourage all producers to reduce their carbon emissions and create a level playing field for all manufacturers. The U.S.-EU negotiations should not create a double standard and a slippery slope toward a dirtier environment. We can do better," said Philip K. Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association and founding member of the Council.