The Group’s CO₂ emissions reduction target

Nippon Steel has set its CO₂ emission reduction targets under the Nippon Steel Carbon Neutral Vision 2050, aiming to reduce total CO₂ emissions by 30% from 2013 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

In addition, the Nippon Steel Group including consolidated crude steelmaking companies that have blast furnaces and electric furnaces with high CO₂ emissions have set a target for 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions in 2030 compared to 2013. Also, our major domestic consolidated subsidiaries aim to be carbon neutral in 2050. Our overall Group will work together to tackle climate change issues.

Furthermore, the Company will continue to timely and flexibly work on the matter of how to deal with the scope of setting CO₂ emission reduction targets (such as covered subsidiaries and affiliates) as it conducts business in Japan and overseas, in light of, among others, international trends in climate change measures and trends in laws, systems, and disclosure standards in each country.

Nippon Steel Group’s energy consumption and energy-derived CO₂ emissions

Nippon Steel has been working on energy conservation from diverse starting points: improving efficient use of energy generated in the steelmaking process (i.e., power generation from recovered by-product gas and waste heat); making operational improvements in each process; renovation of older coke ovens and other equipment; introduction of high-efficiency power generation facilities and oxygen plants; and conversion to regenerative burners in the reheating furnaces.

In fiscal 2023, when production slightly increased, energy-saving measures were also addressed. As a result, our energy consumption and energy-derived CO₂ emissions were 936 petajoules (PJ) and 79 million t-CO₂ (a preliminary figure). Our energy-derived CO₂ emissions accounted for 96% of our GHG emissions.

Breakdown of greenhouse gas (tons)

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CO₂ emissions in the value chain

CO₂ emissions originated from energy source and generated in Nippon Steel’s manufacturing process (Scope 1 and Scope 2) as well as CO₂ emissions in the value chain (Scope 3), which are calculated by using the Green Value Chain Platform of the Ministry of the Environment and other methods are as follows.

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Scope1 and 2

Scope 3 All indirect emissions (not included in Scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company

CO₂ emission reduction by manufacturing Blast furnace cement

By using blast furnace slag for cement production, we are able to reduce the amount of lime and fuel required, and reduce CO₂ emissions per ton of cement by 320 kg (more than 40% reduction compared to ordinary cement).

CO₂ emissions from cement production

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Climate change measures in the resource recycling and biodiversity fields —Blue carbon

Nippon Steel has promoted scientific analysis on usefulness and safety of use of steel slag — a by-product from the steelmaking process. To improve this technology, we began a basic study on blue carbon (CO₂ absorption and fixation in the marine ecosystem), which is getting more attention as a measure against climate change.

In fiscal 2022, we calculated the CO₂ fixation effect in a seaweed bed creation project, on which we have been working over the past nearly 20 years, applying for J-Blue Credit™ certification jointly with the Mashike Fishery Cooperative Association (Mashike, Hokkaido). J-Blue CreditTM was certified and issued for 49.5 t-CO₂ — the amount of CO₂ absorbed and fixed (blue carbon) over the five years (2018 – 2022).

Further, in fiscal 2023, we submitted applications with joint applicants in Mashike-cho and Tomari-mura in Hokkaido, as well as in Kimitsucity, Chiba Prefecture, and J-Blue CreditTM for 33.3 t-CO₂ were certified and issued.

Also in fiscal 2023, we started the new demonstration test of seaweed bed development in 21 sea areas nationwide, and we are conducting continuous surveys of changes in the concentration of iron in seawater before and after the test, as well as the growth of seaweed. In addition to the acquisition of these basic data, we are working to advance seaweed bed development technology by providing theoretical support through scientific approaches, such as off-line testing using the “Sea Laboratory” (marine environment simulator) at the Research & Engineering Center of the R&D Laboratories (Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture) and model analysis that reproduces actual sea conditions.

We will continue these initiatives utilizing our technologies, and expanding seaweed bed development activities nationwide so as to contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions through blue carbon.

Adaptation to climate change

In addition to taking mitigation actions against climate change, we take into account the diverse impact of climate change and appropriately prepare for risks, as adaptive initiatives, and at the same time seek to capture business opportunities.

Preparation for risks

There is a risk that operations and shipments may be interrupted due to the flooding of steelworks and other events, including some caused by abnormal weather as a consequence of climate change. To prevent such risks, we are implementing measures against typhoons and heavy rains, measures to prevent crane overturn, installation of levees, reinforcement of embankments and gradients, and measures to prevent wind and flood damage at each steelworks.

Moreover, our steelworks have enhanced facilities to prevent water pollution. These facilities were provided to increase waste water treatment capacity and involved installation of a large storage tank so that water tainted with iron ore powder would not directly be released into the sea even if our steelworks were subjected to localized heavy rain.

In addition, some administration offices are built on a piloti structure, which means there is open space with no walls on the ground level. This makes the buildings less vulnerable to tsunami. This is a part of our efforts to be well prepared for emergencies such as flooding and high waves.

Capturing business opportunities

We have many products that are used for a long time as construction material for embankments and other public infrastructure. They contribute to providing solutions for “national resilience,” such as protecting towns from flooding or high tides caused by heavy rains or typhoons. Adaptation to climate changes also leads to business opportunities for Nippon Steel.

For example, we have developed and provided for actual use various types of products and product utilization technologies in the civil engineering field. They include hat-type sheet piles (contributing to national resilience in a wide range of ways, including measures against liquefaction of river levees, water leakage, and tsunami reaching coastal levee), linear-type steel piles (having a high-tensile strength at the joints, being suitable to cell-type quays, erosion-control dams and water shut-off work, and contributing to measures for sand embankments and against landslide at the time of heavy rain or a typhoon), and a method of preventing subsidence by use of sheet piles.