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The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), submitted formal objections to ArcelorMittal South Africa's (AMSA) application for an alternative SO2 emission limit at its Vanderbijlpark Works. The objections argue that granting a limit of 1,500 mg/Nm³—three times the legal standard of 500 mg/Nm³—would violate constitutional rights to a healthy environment, ignore the conversion of SO2 into dangerous particulate matter (PM), and prioritize corporate cost-savings over public health in a known pollution hotspot.

The report 'Pedal to the Metal 2026' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global iron and steel industry's struggle to decarbonize, highlighting a 'coal lock-in crisis' where continued investment in blast furnace (BF) capacity and relining of existing assets threaten net-zero targets despite incremental gains in electric arc furnace (EAF) and direct reduced iron (DRI) technologies.

The RMI Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform (SSBP) conducted its first request for proposal (RFP) for the North American market to aggregate demand for near-zero emission (NZE) steel. The process resulted in 13 commercial-scale project proposals targeting delivery by the early 2030s, demonstrating that both buyers and producers are ready to commit to low-emissions steel through innovative procurement models and diverse technology pathways.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes the decarbonisation pathways for the cement and steel industries in Brazil. It identifies key emission sources, evaluates emerging technologies like low-carbon hydrogen (LCH) and carbon capture and storage (CCS), and examines the financial and regulatory frameworks—including the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE)—necessary to transition these hard-to-abate sectors toward a low-carbon economy to maintain international competitiveness.

This case study by Ember examines the underreporting of methane emissions at the Hail Creek coal mine in Australia and the resulting supply chain risks for major steel companies, specifically ArcelorMittal, POSCO, and Nippon Steel.

This research paper examines the 'renewables pull' and 'strategic push' factors influencing the relocation of hydrogen-based steelmaking, concluding that both are necessary for an accelerated transition.

This research paper examines the financial feasibility and requirements of a model green hydrogen-based ironmaking project located in a developing country, designed to export green iron to developed nations for steel production.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute uses scenario analysis and data from LeadIT’s Green Steel Tracker to estimate the renewable electricity and renewable hydrogen requirements for the European Union's green steel transition, focusing on iron reduction and primary steel production.

The report by RMI and the Green Hydrogen Catapult proposes the creation of 'green iron corridors' to decarbonize the steel sector. This strategy involves splitting production: ironmaking occurs in regions with abundant iron ore and renewable energy, while steelmaking remains in manufacturing hubs. This approach aims to reduce emissions and costs by leveraging renewable hydrogen-based ironmaking.

The July 2023 report 'Pedal to the Metal' by Global Energy Monitor assesses the global iron and steel plant fleet, highlighting a critical gap between current capacity developments and the decarbonization targets required for net-zero emissions by 2050. While there is a growing shift toward Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology, the continued expansion of coal-based Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF) capacity, particularly in Asia, threatens to lock in high emissions and create significant stranded asset risks.

This RMI insight brief examines the policy landscapes for clean hydrogen-based steelmaking in China and Europe, analyzing the potential for hydrogen-based steel in China and offering policy recommendations to support the transition to zero-carbon steelmaking.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance and groundWork, has issued a formal request to the National Air Quality Officer and other authorities for the reasons and supporting documentation behind a decision to partly grant an application by ArcelorMittal South Africa (Vanderbijlpark) (AMSA). The decision relates to the suspension, alternative limits, or postponement of compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004.

This working paper analyzes the demonstration phase of the HYBRIT project, which aims to decarbonize the steel industry using a hydrogen direct reduction (HD-R) process. The authors compare small-scale pilot plants with large-scale demonstration plants, concluding that larger plants are more effective for securing financing, permitting, and business models, despite higher regulatory risks.

This report examines the environmental impact of global steelmaking and evaluates hydrogen-based direct reduction as a low-carbon alternative for primary steel production.

This case study examines Australia's historical attempts to develop a domestic steel industry through government intervention, protectionism, and downstream beneficiation requirements, ultimately highlighting the challenges of maintaining global competitiveness after protective measures are removed.

This document is a Pollution Prevention Plan submitted by ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (AMSA) to the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs on 21 December 2017. The plan covers the period from 21 July 2017 to 31 December 2020 and outlines AMSA's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and potential mitigation measures in accordance with regulations promulgated on 21 July 2017.

This annexure provides a detailed source-sink mapping and cluster analysis for the decarbonization of India's steel sector using Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). It identifies specific industrial clusters in the eastern region, estimates their CO2 emissions and storage requirements, and maps available storage capacities in saline aquifers and coal fields. Additionally, it outlines global CCUS operational projects and compares policy frameworks in the US, EU, UK, and China.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines pathways for the global steel sector to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It highlights the necessity of transitioning away from conventional blast furnaces by 2025 to avoid stranded assets and catastrophic climate impacts, emphasizing a mix of hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (HDRI), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and increased recycling. The document stresses the critical role of policy-makers in providing clean energy, creating lead markets, and fostering international cooperation, specifically mentioning the Glasgow Breakthrough on Steel.

This fact sheet describes a project (October 2016 – January 2018) led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Swedish Steel Producers Association (Jernkontoret) to develop a "societal value compass" for the Swedish steel industry. The tool is designed to help the industry align its research, investments, and product development with its 2050 vision of producing only positive societal value, utilizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and capital theory.