UK steel industry supports global standards to accelerate decarbonisation at COP30

At the recent COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, the UK steel industry has expressed strong support for a landmark international agreement aimed at harmonising the measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and establishing unified classifications for low-carbon steel. This effort brings together three major steel certification and standards bodies, ResponsibleSteel, Europe’s Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), and China’s Low-carbon Emission Steel Standard (C2F Steel), under a common framework that collectively covers about 60% of the world’s steel production.

According to ResponsibleSteel, a global not-for-profit that provides certification and standards for steel production, this partnership represents a significant step toward facilitating global trade, investment, and policymaking in decarbonised steel by creating consistent and credible sustainability standards. The agreement will align regional variations in GHG accounting and steel classifications, which have historically differed and complicated global comparisons and transactions. Michael Sansom, sustainability director at the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA), emphasised to Construction News that the new unified approach will “create a more level playing field” by using a consistent sliding scale of emissions intensity for all classifications. This scale is designed to tighten progressively towards 2050, reflecting the industry’s ongoing decarbonisation ambitions.

The Chinese C2F Steel standard, developed by the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) in collaboration with numerous industry stakeholders and experts, introduces a grading system calibrated to China’s unique development context and resources while adhering to international norms. This standard supports the Chinese steel sector’s efforts to brand green and low-carbon products credibly, as evidenced by multiple leading Chinese steelmakers like Bayi Iron & Steel and Wantai Special Steel that have recently obtained C2F certification. The European LESS initiative shares a similar mission of accelerating deep decarbonisation through transparent emissions benchmarks. Together with ResponsibleSteel’s global standards, the alliance aims to provide a harmonised framework that supports global supply chains and investment flows in greener steel products.

Despite the advances, significant challenges remain for decarbonising steel emissions globally. Primary steel production, reliant on iron ore, produces substantially higher embodied carbon emissions than secondary steel manufactured from scrap metal using electric arc furnaces (EAF). However, the supply of scrap steel, a finite resource currently meeting around 30 per cent of global steel demand, is insufficient to cover growing global consumption, which is projected to rise significantly by 2050. Sansom highlighted that although recycling rates are already high worldwide, demand will outstrip scrap availability for decades to come, limiting the extent to which EAF steel alone can reduce the industry’s global carbon footprint.

Within this context, the UK steel sector awaits further clarity from the government’s forthcoming ‘Plan for Steel’ strategy, delayed from its initial 2025 schedule due to the emergency takeover of British Steel. The BCSA calls for the inclusion of a clear decarbonisation roadmap to guide UK industry transition. Currently, the UK consumes approximately 10.5 million tonnes of steel annually but produces only about 4 million tonnes domestically, underlining the importance of stable and transparent global standards to support competitive, low-carbon supply chains.

Industry analysts point to this international agreement as a critical enabler for market transparency and comparability, which are vital for driving investment toward cleaner technologies and supply chain decarbonisation. However, while aligned certification standards mark an important foundation, comprehensive decarbonisation will require continued technological innovation, enhanced scrap recycling infrastructure, and supportive policy frameworks to reduce emissions from primary steelmaking, which remains a sectoral challenge worldwide.

Overall, the COP30 agreement signals growing global convergence on tackling emissions in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries, providing a vital step forward for steel producers, policymakers, investors, and construction sector stakeholders committed to achieving net-zero targets.