Global Steel Climate Council Launches Review of the Steel Climate Standard
The Global Steel Climate Council (GSCC) announced Thursday the launch of a comprehensive two-year review of the Steel Climate Standard – the global benchmark for measuring and reporting steel carbon emissions – and the Supplemental Technical Guidance that supports the Standard’s implementation.
Adopted in August 2023, the Standard has since served as the foundation for independently verified emissions certifications across the globe. The GSCC Board of Directors has approved this review to ensure the Standard continues to reflect the latest climate science, current industry best practices, and the evolving needs of stakeholders across the steel value chain and beyond, GSCC explained.
“The Steel Climate Standard was built through stakeholder collaboration, and its evolution will follow the same path. This review reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and to keeping the Standard aligned with where the science and the industry are headed. We welcome input from every corner of the steel value chain and society because the strongest standards are shaped by the broadest perspectives,” said Adina Renee Adler, Executive Director, GSCC.
The two-year review will examine all aspects of the Standard, including emissions measurement methodologies, certification requirements, target-setting frameworks, and alignment with international climate goals. The process will incorporate insights from the growing body of verified emissions data generated by GSCC-certified members, lessons learned from the certification process, the accelerating effort to modernize climate and steel standards, and developments in global climate policy.
As the first step in this process, the GSCC is opening a formal stakeholder comment period from April 9 through June 23, 2026. All interested parties are invited to submit feedback, including steel producers, upstream suppliers, downstream buyers, industry associations, certification bodies, policymakers, non-governmental organizations, sustainability professionals, civil society groups, academics, and the general population.
The GSCC says it is committed to an inclusive, transparent review process that draws on diverse expertise from across the global steel ecosystem. Stakeholders may submit comments at www.globalsteelclimatecouncil.org/the-standard/web/.
Since its adoption, the Steel Climate Standard has provided a science-based framework for steel producers to obtain third-party certification of facility-specific emissions intensity and to set independently verified decarbonization targets. The first GSCC-certified members have collectively eliminated nearly 3 million metric tons of CO₂e through verified reductions, demonstrating that outcomes-based accountability delivers measurable results regardless of production method, according to the GSCC. The Standard supports the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The GSCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing a technology-neutral, globally applicable standard for reducing steel emissions. By certifying science-based targets, promoting transparent carbon accounting, and encouraging investment in low-carbon technologies, GSCC explains that it empowers steel producers and consumers to achieve their decarbonization goals. Its members include steel manufacturers, associations, and organizations across the steel value chain, with a presence in more than 80 countries.