A new report by CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, analysing a US$259bn grouping of the world’s 20 largest steelmakers, has found that the steel sector is failing to reduce emissions at the rate required to keep global warming below 2°C – putting, on average, 14% of the companies’ potential value at risk.
According to the CDP report, more than 90% of metal produced in the world is steel, and the steel sector is responsible for up to 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use and industry – more than the entire emissions of India. With 650Mt of steel recycled each year, it is also the world’s most recycled material and as such has a central role to play in driving forward the circular economy.
The CDP report, entitled ‘Melting Point’ finds that there is a significant gap between company emissions reductions and the required trajectories for keeping global temperature rises below 2°C. To achieve this, the sector must reduce its emissions by 65% by 2050. However, cumulative company targets suggest a reduction of less than 50% by 2050.
Existing steel production techniques are already close to the limits of their efficiency and so meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement will require a radical step change by the industry, the report claims, creating a material financial risk for the steel giants.
Approximately 86% of the sector’s production is covered by existing or planned carbon pricing markets and, given the scenario of a $100 carbon price by 2040, the average value at risk for these 20 companies would be 14%.
The report reveals a significant geographical divide between the highest and lowest performing companies. "European and East Asian companies have been proactive, setting ambitious emissions reduction targets and investing in a number of innovative low-carbon technologies. Chinese, Russian and US companies lag behind in terms of disclosure and performance across most key areas and have demonstrated little evidence of developing low-carbon technologies," the report claims.
Water is used throughout the steelmaking process so is crucial to the survival of the steel industry. Across the 20 companies surveyed, over 50% of inland steel capacity is exposed to high levels of water-stress risk, such as a decrease in supply of freshwater and an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as drought. Company operations located in China and India are most at risk, according to CDP.
The report points out that some companies are taking steps to decarbonise and six of the companies have delivered technologies that could drive a step-change in emissions performance. SSAB, for example, has set a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 across its entire operations, while Hyundai Steel has targeted an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050. SSAB is co-developing the HYBRIT project to develop green hydrogen steelmaking technologies. ArcelorMittal is developing a suite of technologies including SIDERWIN, which uses electricity for the direct reduction of iron oxides, and Carbon2value – a Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technology to separate CO2 from waste gases. Four companies (ArcelorMittal, Baoshan Iron & Steel, Beijing Shougang and Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel) have partnered with the carbon recycling company Lanzatech, which converts waste gases from the steelmaking process to produce bioethanol.
Luke Fletcher, senior analyst at CDP commented: “The pace at which the steel sector is reducing emissions is too slow for the transition to a low-carbon economy and it needs to deploy and commercialise radical technologies if it is to avoid looming carbon costs and remain competitive. Recent events at British Steel are an example of the huge financial risks the sector faces and companies need to show evidence that strategies are being adopted to ensure resilience for the changes ahead."
According to Fletcher, the good news is that technologies to decouple carbon emissions from steel production are emerging.from hydrogen steelmaking to electrolysis using clean electricity. He said that the sector is already a global leader in recycling, with steel now the world’s most recycled material.
Angang Steel, Baoshan Iron & Steel, Beijing Shougang, BlueScope Steel, Gerdau, Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel, NLMK, Nucor and US Steel did not respond to CDP’s 2018 climate change questionnaire. CDP says it encourages investors to raise this lack of transparency in discussions with company management.