On January 20, the China Iron and Steel Association (hereinafter referred to as “China Iron and Steel Association”) issued a notice on the proposed establishment of the “China Iron and Steel Association Low-Carbon Work Promotion Committee” and the solicitation of committee members and expert group members.
The China Iron and Steel Association stated that in the context of global low-carbon development, President Xi Jinping’s commitment clarified the direction for the green and low-carbon development of the steel industry. Previously, in September 2020, China announced that it would increase its nationally determined contributions, adopt more powerful policies and measures, strive to reach the peak of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This is the first time that China has clearly proposed the goal of carbon neutrality, and it is also a long-term policy signal for China’s low-carbon economic transition, which has attracted widespread attention from the international community.
As a pillar basic manufacturing industry, the steel industry has a large output base and is a major energy consumer and a major carbon dioxide emitter. The China Iron and Steel Association stated that the steel industry must take the road of low-carbon development, which is not only related to the survival and development of the steel industry, but also our responsibility. At the same time, with the introduction of the EU’s “carbon border adjustment tax” and the launch of the domestic carbon emissions trading market, the steel industry must be fully prepared to meet and respond to challenges.
To this end, in accordance with relevant national requirements and the voice of the iron and steel industry, the China Iron and Steel Association plans to organize relevant leading companies, scientific research institutes, and technical units in the iron and steel industry to establish the “China Iron and Steel Industry Association Low-Carbon Work Promotion Committee” to gather the advantages of all parties. Work together to achieve the goal of carbon emission reduction in the steel industry and play its due role in striving for favorable opportunities for steel companies in the carbon competition environment.
It is reported that the committee has three working groups and one expert group. First, the low-carbon development working group is responsible for the investigation and research of low-carbon related policies and issues in the steel industry, and proposing policy recommendations and measures; second, the low-carbon technology working group, researching, investigating, and promoting low-carbon related technologies in the steel industry, Promote the low-carbon development of the industry from the technical level; third, the standards and norms working group, establish and improve the low-carbon standards and norms system related to the steel industry, implement standards to promote low-carbon development. In addition, there is also a low-carbon expert group, which gathers experts in the steel industry and related industry policies, technology, finance and other fields to provide support for the work of the committee.
It is worth mentioning that just earlier on January 20, the Paper (www.thepaper.cn) reporter learned from the steel central enterprise China Baowu that Chen Derong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Baowu, held the meeting on January 20 China Baowu’s carbon emission reduction target announced at the fifth full committee (expanded) meeting of the first China Baowu Party Committee and the 2021 cadre meeting: release a low-carbon metallurgical roadmap in 2021, and strive to achieve carbon peaks in 2023. Possess 30% carbon reduction process technology capability, strive to reduce carbon by 30% in 2035, and strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
China Baowu mentioned that, as an energy-intensive industry, the iron and steel industry is the largest carbon emitter among the 31 categories of manufacturing, accounting for about 15% of the country’s total carbon emissions. In recent years, although the steel industry has made great efforts to save energy and reduce emissions, and the intensity of carbon emissions has declined year by year, due to the large volume and the particularity of the process, the pressure on total carbon emissions control is still huge.