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Steel Breakthrough

Seven out of the ten biggest steel-producing countries have initiated at least one green steel project, while nine companies, representing around 20% of global steel production, have set firm net zero emissions commitments. The Glasgow Breakthrough on Steel brings together global governments to cooperatively accelerate the innovation and create the economies of scale and incentives for investment needed to rapidly create and deploy the solutions to make near-zero emission steel efficient, widespread, and a growing concern by 2030.

The global steel industry, which employs more than six million workers, is responsible for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To align with the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero pathway, the sector must make a significant shift from coal to electricity in its energy demand use by 2050, from 15% to 70%. To reach the target will require rapid investment and scale-up of innovation, hydrogen and electrification.

Breakthrough: to make near-zero emission steel the preferred choice in global markets, with efficient use and near-zero emission steel production established and growing in every region by 2030.

Activity period 2021–present
Last CoAct update 2025
Web URL https://breakthroughagenda.org/steel-initiatives/
Output effectiveness
0.29
Accountability Index
0.53
Inclusiveness Index
0.45
Capacity Index
0.52
Num. actors 66
Functions Knowledge production, Knowledge dissemination, Technical implementation, Institutional capacity building, Standards and norms, Campaigning, Participatory management, Funding, Policy planning
SDGs 7 8 9 11 12 13 17
Themes industry
Policy focus Mainly mitigation
Sectors Construction
Implementation countries Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See (the), India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kzakhstan, Kenya, Korea (the Republic of), Lithuania, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates (the), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland (the), United States of America (the)
Target Target type
Over 100 million tonnes (Mt) of near-zero emission ironmaking production by 2030 Emission reduction target
Efficient use and near-zero emission steel production established and growing in every region by 2030 Energy efficiency target
Develop common principles for definitions that are net-zero compatible with a view to adopting low and near-zero emission thresholds within national policies by the end of 2025 Other target
Scaling the number of pilot and commercial-scale demonstration projects for near-zero emission steel technologies and supporting their delivery well in advance of 2030 Other target