The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported last week that the United States steel industry has achieved a new milestone in energy efficiency by reducing its energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by approximately 33 percent since 1990. The decrease represents a further improvement since AISI announced a 29 percent reduction in 2006. Because of the close relationship between energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the industry's aggregate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per ton of steel shipped have also been substantially reduced. Compared to the Kyoto Protocol's call for an average U.S. reduction of seven percent in greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2012, the American steel industry has already surpassed the Kyoto target.
These numbers will undoubtedly be welcomed by the incoming Obama administration which has made reduction of greenhouse emissions a cornerstone of its environmental policy. The most notable aspect of Obama's "green policy" came when he cosponsored the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act. The bill proposed a reduction of national greenhouse gas emissions of 80% by the year 2050.
On average, 1.14 tons of carbon dioxide was emitted in 2007 for every ton of steel produced in the United States. The low CO2 intensity of American-manufactured steel coupled with its infinite recycling ability is why products made of steel have such low environmental impacts during their life cycle. It is why steel is the material of choice in so many applications.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steel-making technology. AISI is comprised of 25 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 130 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent over 70 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.