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Steel Group Launches Global CO2 Emissions Data Collection Project

The International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) has implemented Phase 2 of its global sectoral approach to climate change for the steel industry, which centers on the secure collection of CO2 emissions data from steel operations worldwide.

“This confidential information collection will lead to benchmarking improvements based on actual performance data and then reporting and setting of commitments on a national or regional basis for implementation in the post-Kyoto period.”
 
Ian Christmas,
IISI Secretary General

“We have completed Phase 1 with the design and testing of a globally consistent calculation methodology that will allow production-normalized CO2 emission comparisons between plants that has not been possible before,” said IISI Secretary General Ian Christmas. “We use an intensity-based approach to the measurement of carbon dioxide emissions, taking into account the CO2 produced per tonne of steel.
 
“One of the most important but difficult parts of Phase 1 has been the setting of common boundaries for comparable CO2 emissions data,” commented Christmas, “as there are a variety of steelmaking processes and material flows. Both major processes are classified: Integrated (blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace), and Electric Arc Furnace, and CO2 emissions are calculated respectively.”
 
Continuing, Ian Christmas said: “The key advantage of the IISI approach is that it is supported by its members in both the developed and developing countries, including China, which accounts for approximately 50% of total steelmaking CO2 emissions. But this is not restricted to our steel-producing members only: we are also working through our Affiliate Members (the National and Regional Steel Associations) to contact smaller steel producers that are not members of IISI, making sure we reach out to all steel plants worldwide from all the major steel-producing countries and asking that they complete the data collection online.”
 
The Institute has provided a specially commissioned, secure website for steel producers to submit their emissions data for all steel producing facilities worldwide.
 
“This confidential information collection will lead to benchmarking improvements based on actual performance data and then reporting and setting of commitments on a national or regional basis for implementation in the post-Kyoto period,” said Christmas.
 
The International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world. IISI represents approximately 180 steel producers (including 19 of the world's 20 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. IISI members produce around 75% of the world's steel (excluding China) and the growing membership in China now accounts for over 20% of Chinese production.