Help shape a credible market for low-emissions steel

Steel accounts for roughly 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet deployment of near-zero technologies remains constrained by high capital costs, long asset lifetimes, and limited ability for buyers to physically procure low-emissions steel. A credible book-and-claim system can help bridge this gap by enabling a broader set of market participants to financially support low-emissions production, even when physical supply chains cannot yet shift.

RMI is launching a public consultation on a proposed Steel Book and Claim Framework — a market-based mechanism designed to accelerate investment in low-emissions iron and steel production while ensuring transparency, credibility, and environmental integrity.

Developed through structured engagement with corporate buyers, producers, and technical experts, this framework establishes the core design rules for a steel book-and-claim system. This includes functional units, eligibility criteria, emissions performance measurement, guidance on transfer and claim certificates, accounting and reporting claims and measures to prevent double counting. By linking verified emissions performance to transparent certificate issuance and tracking, it strengthens buyer confidence and helps producers to de-risk early investments in low-carbon steel technologies.

We invite stakeholders across the steel value chain, including producers, buyers, standard-setters, and civil society, to provide feedback on this draft framework. Please submit your feedback using the public consultation response form to Iris Wu (iwu@rmi.org). The deadline is 30 April. If you have any questions about the framework or the consultation process, please reach out to the contacts above.