Our Commitment to Reduce GHG Emissions
The American steel industry is already among the cleanest and most energy efficient in the world. Cleveland-Cliffs already achieved the 2030 emissions intensity goal established in 2021 to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions intensity by 25%, well ahead of schedule. In May 2024, we set new GHG emissions reductions targets with the groundwork for our future decarbonization initiatives that are practical, impactful, and add value to our business strategy. In 2024, the Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions intensity of our integrated mills remained well below global peers. The Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions intensity of our integrated mills is 27% lower than the global average.
In 2023, we expressed interest to be a significant offtaker of hydrogen from multiple proposed hydrogen hubs being promoted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). We conducted initial trials of hydrogen at our Middletown blast furnace. When utilized, the partial substitution of coke with hydrogen lowers CO2 from ironmaking. In early 2024, we commissioned a dedicated hydrogen pipeline directly to our Indiana Harbor #7 Blast Furnace to demonstrate our readiness. Shortly afterward, we completed hydrogen injection trials at Indiana Harbor #7, the largest blast furnace in North America (see control screen image). Cleveland-Cliffs is the first steel producer to conduct full-scale trials of hydrogen gas as a reducing agent in blast furnaces in the Americas region.