The Steel Industry and the Paris Agreement: Towards a Sustainable Future

By Ricky Gommans, ArcelorMittal Distribution Benelux

In a world paying increasing attention to climate change and sustainability, the steel sector plays a crucial role in the transition to a greener future. The Paris Agreement, signed by nearly 200 countries in 2015, aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. This agreement not only places responsibility on governments, but also calls on industries to do their part. In this context, the steel sector is challenged to become more sustainable and play a key role in reducing global CO2 emissions.

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The Steel Industry: A Titan with a Heavy Ecological Footprint

The steel sector has always been a titan in the industrial world, but unfortunately this often goes hand in hand with a heavy ecological footprint. The overall share of the building and construction sector in the overall environmental impact is about 40 per cent. Traditional production methods, such as the blast furnace process, are energy-intensive and emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). This has led to growing concerns about the environmental impact of steel production.

The Paris Agreement as a Guiding Light

The Paris Agreement challenges the steel sector to take innovative paths and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future. One of its main goals is to reduce CO2 emissions, which means that the steel industry must switch to clean and green production methods. This is not only an ethical obligation, but also a business imperative in a world where sustainability is increasingly seen as a decisive factor.

Sustainable Technologies and Innovations

ArcelorMittal is fully committed to the future with several pioneering innovations:

· XCarb® recycled and renewably produced: these products are produced via the electric arc furnace route and use green energy and scrap to do so. More information on the XCarb® range can be found at: XCarb® recycled and renewably produced - ArcelorMittal Europe.

· DRI: In the future, green energy will be replaced by hydrogen and eventually green hydrogen. We will achieve this through our DRI project, read more about this project at: Technology pathways to net-zero steel | ArcelorMittal

· Torero: We will make steel produced via the blast furnace route more sustainable through this project. In it, we will replace regular coal with circular carbon sources, including sustainable biomass in the form of forestry and agricultural waste, and even plastic waste. You can see how we are doing this at: Torero officially commissioned - ArcelorMittal in Belgium.

These technologies make it possible to produce high-quality steel with significantly lower emissions.

The Need for Collaboration and Investment: A Call to Clients and Contractors

For clients and contractors in the building and construction industry, the move to sustainably produced steel is not only a responsibility, but also an opportunity to transform the sector. Investing in green building materials and sustainably produced steel is no longer just an option; it is a crucial step towards a sustainable future.

It starts with the choice of building materials. Clients and contractors have the power to integrate sustainability into the supply chain. By choosing steel produced with innovative and eco-friendly technologies, they contribute directly to reducing the carbon footprint of construction projects.

Conclusion: A Sustainable Future for the Steel Industry

The Paris Agreement poses a clear challenge to the steel industry, but it also opens the door to a promising future. By investing in sustainable technologies and collaborating on green initiatives, the steel industry can not only meet the requirements of the Paris Agreement, but also lead global efforts to combat climate change.

Now is the time to act. By investing in sustainability, we can not only protect our planet but also strengthen the steel industry's competitiveness in an increasingly green world. It is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity to evolve, innovate and leave a sustainable legacy for future generations.

If you are interested in our sustainable XCarb® offer, or would like to discuss the topic of sustainability with us, please contact us via our contact form à Contact (arcelormittal.com).

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