We have less than a decade to prevent the most catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis. Changes are required from the whole of society, especially from those industries with the largest emission reduction potential. It is time to address steel’s “carbon-black” production.
The global emissions of steel are massive – if steel industry was a country, its emissions would be in the top three in the world. The steel company SSAB alone is responsible for almost 9 percent of Finland’s national emissions. As steel use is expected to rise by 40 percent by 2050, something has to change.
Finland must become an example of how the sector can shift to fossil-free steel, as well as recycle steel and replace it with other materials. Climate-friendly alternatives are already available. This transition will simultaneously create new opportunities for business: fossil-free steel can be an asset to the whole of Finland.
Campaign goals
The main objective of our campaign is for the Finnish steel sector to be aligned with the Paris Agreement. In practice, this means that:
- Finnish steel-user companies commit to procuring 100% fossil-free steel.
- Finnish institutional investors commit to only funding steel projects that are in line with the 1.5°C target.
- Outokumpu and SSAB (major Finnish steel producing companies) set necessary and science-based climate goals and implement them meticulously.
To achieve our goals, we will evaluate the steel policies of companies and institutional investors, engage in AGM activism, organise events, contact steel industry actors and collaborators, and exert pressure through the means of communications and lobbying. Our campaign is rooted in science and our determination to change the world is as tough as steel!
Coal-free Finland is a climate campaign under Friends of the Earth Finland, and a follow-up to the earlier Coal-free Helsinki campaign. Coal-free Helsinki culminated in the Helsinki city council’s decision to close down the Hanasaari coal plant in December 2015. Since then, we have focused, among other things, on election campaigning, guiding Finnish municipalities towards sustainable energy production, and pushing Fortum towards the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal. We cooperate extensively with other environmental organisations and movements, both within Finland and globally. The campaign is funded by foundation grants and our own fundraising.