In this blog article, you can learn about:

• Introduction: Understanding CO2 Emissions and Decarbonization
• Decarbonization: Shifting Towards Sustainable Practices
• Implications for Metal-Reliant Industries
• Action Steps for Businesses Towards Decarbonization
  

The Climate Change: Understanding CO₂ Emissions

Decarbonization - the term that is being used more and more frequently, but what is it exactly? And what does it mean for business and the metal scrap industry?

Scientists claim that the Earth has entered a new geological age, namely, the Anthropocene.¹ This new epoch is marked mainly by human activity on the planet and the aftermath of it. Think about it. We have been improving, growing, and building since industrialization started.

We’ve built skyscrapers to have great views, fast cars so we could move more quickly, and connected everything by cables to talk to each other. 

Besides making all that is useful to us as humans, we have been producing more than is feasible, which has led to CO₂ overproduction—CO₂ (carbon dioxide) is one of the most critical greenhouse gasses linked to climate change.²

When CO₂ is released into the atmosphere, it acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat and causing the planet to warm - leading to various impacts, including rising sea levels, melting glaciers, more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, and extreme weather events. In order to address this issue, it is important to understand where these emissions come from and how we can reduce them.

Decarbonization

Now, realizing that we must change something, we are coming to our primary term: decarbonization. In simple words, it implies reducing CO₂ production.³

Decarbonization includes the shift from high-carbon energy sources (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas) to low-carbon or low-carbon energy sources (wind, solar, and hydropower.)

It also involves decreasing emissions from sectors such as transportation, agriculture, and industry through more efficient technologies and practices. Decarbonization aims to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels and work towards limiting it to 1.5°C, as established by the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.^4,5

What Does This Mean for Metal-Reliant Industries?

Long story short, we need to change. Our operations, mindsets, our economic principles. 

According to data from Our World in Data, the largest source of global GHG emissions is the energy sector, accounting for around 72% of emissions in 2016. This includes emissions from electricity and heat production, transportation, and manufacturing. 

Highlighting important sectors for the metal industries; the iron and steel industry accounts for 7.2% of emissions, while non-ferrous metals account for 0.7% of the GHG emissions. Road transportation counts for 11.9% out of 16.2% of total transport emissions. Finally, landfill waste caused 1.9% of GHG emissions in 2016.⁶

Chart 1: Global greenhouse gas emissions by sector ⁶

Action Steps for Businesses

We can start by implementing energy efficiency measures, transitioning to renewable energy, and adopting circular economy principles. 

• Using renewable energy sources (e.g., solar or wind) to power their operations,

• Encouraging their suppliers to adopt sustainable practices to reduce the environmental impact of the supply chain,

• Collaborating with other stakeholders to develop innovative solutions,

• Advocating for policies that support the transition to a sustainable future.
  

More specifically, industries working with metals can start by:

• The metal (scrap) industry: implementing closed-loop recycling systems to reduce waste and the need for new raw materials.

• The automotive industry: investing in energy-efficient materials and renewable energy sources to power their manufacturing facilities and operations.

• The construction industry: designing and constructing buildings with energy-efficient materials and technologies, such as insulation and solar panels.

Benefits of Using Metal Scrap 

Metals are an essential part of our lives; there is no denying it. From building structures and cars to wires in the charging cable of the device you are reading this from - they all include metal ready to be recycled.

Using recycled metal in your business contributes to decarbonization in several ways: it saves energy, reduces the demand for mining, decreases waste, and avoids emissions from production.

1. Energy savings: It requires less energy than producing metals from raw materials. This reduction in energy consumption leads to lower CO₂ emissions. 

2. Reduced demand for mining: Giving new life to metal scrap lessens the demand for mining new metal ores, a significant source of CO₂ emissions due to the energy-intensive extraction and refining process.

3. Decreased waste: Instead of throwing it away, recycling helps to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, where it can emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas. 

4. Avoided emissions from production: When metal is recycled, it avoids the emissions that would have been generated from producing new metal, including emissions from the production of raw materials, refining, and manufacturing.

For a More Sustainable Future

The reduction in CO₂ emissions will help mitigate the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, altered weather patterns, harm to wildlife and their habitats, and climate-driven migration of people.⁷

Decarbonization is a critical step in mitigating the impacts of climate change and achieving the targets established by the Paris Agreement. While challenges exist in achieving decarbonization, global cooperation, and innovative solutions can help to overcome these obstacles and create a sustainable world for us and future generations.

Works Cited

¹ National Geographic Society. “Anthropocene.” National Geographic Society, 19 October 2023, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/anthropocene/. Accessed 23 April 2024.

² Rosen, Julia. “The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof.” The New York Times, 6 November 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/article/climate-change-global-warming-faq.html. Accessed 31 March 2023.

³ myclimate. “What does Decarbonisation mean?” My Climate, https://www.myclimate.org/en/information/faq/faq-detail/what-does-decarbonisation-mean/. Accessed 23 April 2024.

⁴ “The Paris Agreement | United Nations.” the United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement. Accessed 31 March 2023.

⁵ “The Paris Agreement.” UNFCCC, https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement. Accessed 31 March 2023.

⁶ Ritchie, Hannah, and Max Roser. “Emissions by sector.” Our World in Data, https://ourworldindata.org/emissions-by-sector#sector-by-sector-where-do-global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-come-from. Accessed 15 March 2023.

⁶ Rosen, Julia. “The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof.” The New York Times, 6 November 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/article/climate-change-global-warming-faq.html. Accessed 31 March 2023.

⁷ “What Is Climate Change? | United Nations.” the United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change. Accessed 31 March 2023.