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The report warns that 'relining' seven aging coal-based blast furnaces in the US Great Lakes region is a multi-billion dollar risk that locks in high emissions and health-harming pollution for another 20 years. While these plants represent only about a quarter of US steel production, they generate approximately 75 percent of the industry's emissions. The authors argue that instead of spending $150M to $425M per furnace on relines, companies should invest in hydrogen-ready Direct Reduction (DRI) coupled with electric arc furnaces (H2-DRI-EAF), which can achieve near-zero carbon emissions. Although a new DRI plant costs more ($600M to $800M) and faces a near-term energy cost gap of approximately $2.50/kg H2 compared to coal, the transition is projected to protect skilled union jobs and create additional employment in renewable energy and hydrogen production. The report concludes that federal and state support—via tax credits, grants, and infrastructure investment—is necessary to close the remaining economic gap and avoid stranded assets.

The document describes Canada's dual-track carbon pricing approach, distinguishing between consumer carbon taxes and industrial systems for large emitters. It details two primary industrial models—emissions-intensity based systems and cap-and-trade systems—and compares their application across different Canadian jurisdictions, highlighting the specific frameworks used in Alberta, Quebec, and the federal backstop system.

Canada employs a dual carbon pricing approach consisting of a consumer carbon price and an industrial carbon price for large emitters. To prevent carbon leakage and protect trade-exposed industries, Canada utilizes large-emitter trading systems (LETS), which primarily take the form of intensity-based systems or cap-and-trade. There are nine LETS across the country, including the federal output-based pricing system (OBPS) and Alberta's Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation, the latter being the largest due to Alberta's share of industrial emissions. Quebec operates the only cap-and-trade system in Canada, which is integrated with the Western Climate Initiative. The Northwest Territories uses a unique fuel levy with rebates rather than a trading system.

The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a structured approach to create Climate Finance Roadmaps that match the risk profiles of specific regions and sectors with the preferences and capacities of public and private investors. The framework moves from identifying financing gaps and assessing investment risks to determining the necessary capital mix and estimating future finance flows. It aims to provide actionable guidance for policymakers and capital allocators to mobilize finance at scale, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) and underserved sectors like agriculture and industry.

The document examines the 2019 agreement between Stellantis and Detroit, which provided $13.8 million in community investments and nearly 5,000 jobs in exchange for a $2.5-billion expansion of the Jefferson North Assembly Plant. While the Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO) provided a formal framework for resident engagement via a Neighborhood Advisory Council, the document highlights significant failures in the process, including an expedited six-week negotiation timeline that hindered environmental research. It further details a disconnect between official compliance reports and actual air quality violations, noting that Stellantis released volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants, leading to state fines that did not benefit the impacted majority-Black, low-income community.

The document details how human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, have increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide to levels higher than any point in the last 800,000 years. These gases have caused a combined 1.6°C of global warming since 1850, with CO2 and methane accounting for 95% of this increase. In the United States, 76% of greenhouse gas emissions originate from three sectors: transportation (28%), electric power (25%), and industry (23%). The text emphasizes that while the U.S. has reduced emissions to approximately 17% below 2005 levels, the pace of reduction must more than triple to meet 2030 national targets.

The study argues that Germany's transport sector is failing to meet climate targets and that delaying transformative measures will lead to more disruptive and costly emission reductions in the future. It compares scenarios of immediate action versus delayed action, concluding that later implementation requires significantly higher rates of emission reduction after 2030 to achieve climate neutrality.

Brazil is positioned as a potential global leader in green steel due to high-quality iron ore and vast renewable energy resources, though its industry remains heavily reliant on coal-based blast furnaces. While the country leads in biochar use, a full transition requires shifting to electric arc furnaces (EAF) and green hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI). The report emphasizes that strategic policy and the upcoming COP30 summit are critical to overcoming the longevity of existing coal-based infrastructure and the high capital costs of new technologies.

The report highlights that steel and cement are the largest industrial emitters, accounting for over 7% and 6% of global CO2 emissions in 2022. It argues that credible corporate transition plans are essential for unlocking private capital, particularly through sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs). An analysis of 20 companies reveals that while 90% have published transition plans, there is a significant lack of consistency in financing disclosure and a critical gap in concrete 'just transition' objectives. The document emphasizes that emerging markets will lead demand growth and hold the majority of coal-based blast furnace capacity requiring reinvestment by 2030, making international coordination and supportive public procurement policies vital for a credible transition.

The steel sector accounts for approximately 1 percent of US emissions and 7 percent of global emissions. The document argues that the US steel industry is at a critical juncture where it must either maintain coal-based production or reinvest in modern assets. It asserts that immediate congressional action and policy interventions can ensure US producers remain competitive while transitioning to cleaner production methods, particularly as the sector is influenced by global overcapacity and international trade benchmarks.

The guide examines the legal frameworks for air quality in Turkey and the EU, analyzing the intersection of environmental law and human rights. It details the obligations of states to maintain air quality limit values, the requirements for air quality plans, and the regulation of industrial emissions. The document highlights the role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Turkish Constitutional Court in protecting the right to a healthy environment and discusses the process of aligning Turkish legislation with the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

The EPA has launched Phase 2 of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program, offering $4.3 billion in a general competition and $300 million for tribes and territories to implement Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAP). Eligible projects must focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction across sectors such as electric power, transportation, and industry, with a strict application deadline of April 1, 2024. The document advises states and municipalities to proactively coordinate and engage underserved communities to maximize funding opportunities within the tight timeframe.

The document argues for the adoption of a compensation right in the EU Industrial Emissions Directive to address the health impacts of illegal industrial pollution and provide legal redress for victims.

The document argues for the adoption of an effective right to compensation within the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (specifically article 79 bis) to address health damages caused by illegal industrial pollution. It highlights that industrial air pollution caused damages valued between 277 and 433 billion euros in 2017 and asserts that current legal frameworks leave victims powerless. The authors propose that a harmonized right to compensation, including industry and authority liability, class actions, and the production of evidence, would protect fundamental rights, encourage legal compliance, and save the European economy 55 billion euros annually through better environmental law adherence.

A coalition of organisations, including ClientEarth and the European Consumer Organisation, calls for the adoption of an effective right to compensation within Article 79a of the EU Industrial Emissions Directive. The appeal argues that current legal frameworks leave victims of illegal industrial pollution without real opportunities for redress, despite the significant health and economic costs of such pollution. The proposed solution includes minimum guarantees such as liability for illegally operating industry and authorities, class actions, and information disclosure tools. The authors contend that this would harmonise inconsistent national laws, uphold fundamental human rights, and encourage legal compliance, potentially saving the EU economy 55 billion euros annually.

The global steel sector faces significant challenges in decarbonization, with emissions intensity growing by 0.5% annually since 2010. While hydrogen-based Direct Reduced Iron (H-DRI) and Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) offer paths to near-zero emissions, their deployment is hindered by high costs, limited green hydrogen supply, and a shortage of high-grade iron ore. The report highlights a geographic divide: the EU and US are shifting toward low-emission tech supported by subsidies and carbon pricing, while high-growth regions like India continue to expand high-emission Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF) capacity. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is viewed as a necessary but expensive tool for abating existing capacity, though commercial-scale projects remain limited.

The report finds that while there is a growing shift toward electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, the transition is too slow to meet IEA Net Zero by 2050 targets. Asia, particularly India and China, remains the hub for new coal-based blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) capacity. This continued investment in carbon-intensive technology, alongside persistent global overcapacity, creates a significant stranded asset risk estimated up to US$ 554 billion.

The report evaluates the potential for offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the US mid-Atlantic to compensate for limited onshore capacity. Using the SimCCS modeling toolset, the study identifies 199 facilities across 15 industry sectors with a total of 31.47 Mt of annual capturable CO2. It finds that while offshore storage capacity is vast—estimated at 621,221 MtCO2 across 125 candidate sites—the costs are significantly higher than onshore benchmarks, ranging from 95.5 to 147.9 $/tCO2. This cost disparity is primarily driven by offshore pipeline installation and storage expenses. The analysis suggests that capturing the full 31.47 MtCO2 would require a 7,789 km branched pipeline network and that emission prices between $95.5 and $103.5 per tonne could incentivize initial capture efforts.

The document outlines the necessity of a radical reduction in industrial emissions to meet the EU's 2050 climate neutrality goal, arguing that current production-based models must shift toward needs-based models that respect biophysical boundaries. It identifies critical gaps in the European Green Deal's progress on decoupling economic growth from resource use and proposes three primary levers for transition: mobilizing finance through regulatory environments, creating incentives for new business models, and utilizing targeted interventions for demonstration projects.

The U.S. aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030. While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provide significant reductions, a gap of approximately 810 million tonnes CO2e remains. The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) proposes a 'high impact' scenario leveraging Clean Air Act regulatory authority and agriculture/forestry spending to close this gap.