OUR GREENHOUSE PERFORMANCE
OUR GREENHOUSE PERFORMANCE
The impact of the global financial downturn and the subsequent decrease in production output across the business resulted in a significant reduction in BlueScope Steel's absolute greenhouse gas emissions in FY09, with a total of 11.8 million tonnes (CO2 equivalent). However, the overall greenhouse intensity increased to 2.5 tonnes (CO2 equivalent) of GHG emissions per tonne of raw steel manufactured.
In the lead up to the financial downturn, BlueScope Steel's total global greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) fluctuated between 14.7 and 15.3 million tonnes (CO2 equivalent) per annum. During this period of relative economic stability, incremental energy and greenhouse gas efficiency improvements have maintained the global greenhouse gas intensity for the Company at approximately 2.2 tonnes (CO2 equivalent) of GHG emissions per tonne of raw steel manufactured.
Steelmaking generates greenhouse gas emissions, mainly carbon dioxide, both directly when making iron and steel, and indirectly through the use of electricity and gas. The rate of greenhouse gas generation, and the overall efficiency of operations, is heavily influenced by the production output. The Company remains committed to reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of our operations and continuously improving our environmental footprint. As production output returns to pre-downturn tonnages, the greenhouse gas emissions and emissions intensity are forecast to return to more typical levels.
BlueScope Steel’s total Scope 1 (direct emissions) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions from consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam), raw steel production output and greenhouse gas intensity are depicted in the accompanying graphs.
