Environment

Greenhouse
Gas Emissions

Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is key to becoming a sustainable steel producer.

Producing steel is carbon-intensive and we have a roadmap to get to net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2050. Roughly three-quarters of the GHG emissions from integrated steelmaking are associated with the use of coke and coal to melt iron in blast furnaces.

U. S. Steel has always strived to be on the leading edge of the most energy-efficient production of steel using blast furnaces. Simultaneously, we are making steel by melting recycled steel scrap using electricity in EAFs, which produces significantly less GHG emissions. U. S. Steel recognizes the importance of having both routes of steel production while transitioning to a lower carbon economy.

Our progress toward lowering our Scope 2 emissions has continued through 2024 with important milestones. For example, U. S. Steel’s second mini mill, BR2, opened in October 2024, which will reduce our GHG emissions intensity once operating at run-rate capacity. Entergy Arkansas’ Driver Solar project, which is located adjacent to the Big River Steel Works operations, came online in December in 2024 and is projected more than 555,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of solar energy annually, significantly increasing Big River Steel Works' use of renewable energy.

Along with strategic projects and partnerships across all our facilities, we continue to advance towards our GHG emissions reduction goals. We are committed to annual public reporting on progress against our GHG emissions reduction goals, as well as the measures being implemented to achieve them.

As we move full speed ahead toward reaching this target, we are focusing on process optimization as well as on the incorporation of EAFs into our footprint. Our greenhouse gas emission target reflects our continued commitment to improvement in production efficiency and the manufacture of products that are environmentally friendly.


GreenHouse Gas Emissions
2030 Goal

-20%

We have set a goal to reduce our
GHG emissions intensity Scope 1 and 2 by 20% by
2030 based on 2018 baseline levels.

GreenHouse Gas Emissions
2050 Goal

NET-ZERO

We have set an ambitious goal
targeting net-zero carbon emissions Scope 1 and 2 by 2050.


 


2024 TOTAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS



The graph above show the absolute and intensity based GHG emissions for U. S. Steel wholly owned facilities for 2018-2024. The results are separated by Scope 1, Scope 2, and total GHG emissions for North America, Europe and Total Global Operations. Absolute measurements are presented as metric tons of CO2e, while intensity measurements are metric tons of CO2e per metric ton of raw steel produced.

Spotlight: GHG Emissions Reduction Projects


Fairfield Tubular Operations

Shipment of products from
trucking to rail

We prioritized the shipment of products via rail as opposed to truck at our Fairfield Tubular Operations in 2022. According to the Association of American Railroads, moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces GHG emissions by up to 75%. Collaboration with core U. S. Steel distribution partners was key to improving supply chain visibility from production through finished inventory, and to coordinating efficient unloading of railcars at destinations. We are still maximizing on these benefits.


Gary Works

Reducing natural gas usage

The Gary Works facility undertook several projects to reduce purchased natural gas used as boiler fuel by increasing the utilization of the blast furnace gas by-product back into the system. The blast furnace gas is used to fire the stoves that preheat the air going to the blast furnace. The remaining gas goes to the boiler house, generating steam for the turbines that supply wind to the furnace, meet steam needs for operations, and power our steam turbine generator to produce electricity. In 2024, Gary Works averaged 102.7 MWh of energy production, equaling 51% of energy needed to power the facility’s operations, through the reuse of the blast furnace gas.

summary of u. s. steel corporation 2024 greenhouse gas emissions

25.60*

Scope 1 and 2

22.83*

Scope 1

1.60**

Scope 1 GHG Intensity


1.80**

Scope 1 and 2 GHG Intensity

2.78*

Market-based Scope 2

0.20**

Market-based Scope 2 GHG Intensity

 

*Million metric tonnes CO2e
**Metric tons of CO2e per metric ton of raw steel produced

2024 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS SUMMARY


U. S. Steel Corporation - Annual Scope 1 and Scope 2 (market-based) Greenhouse Gas Emissions
YearMillion metric tons of CO2e
201834.04
201932.01
202025.20
202130.16
202227.17
202328.38
202425.60


 

U. S. Steel Corporation - Annual Scope 1 and Scope 2 (market-based) Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity
YearMetric tons of CO2e per metric ton of raw steel produced
20182.22
20192.30
20202.18
20211.84
20221.88
20231.81
20241.80


 

U. S. Steel Corporation - Annual Scope 1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
YearMetric tons of CO2e
201830.51
201928.49
202022.83
202127.34
202224.36
202325.84
202422.83


 

U. S. Steel Corporation - Annual Market-based Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
YearMillion metric tons of CO2e
20183.54
20193.52
20202.37
20212.82
20222.81
20232.55
20242.78

Environmental Areas of Focus

U. S. Steel’s current environmental areas of focus align with the results of our ESG Materiality Assessment.