India’s plan to significantly expand coal-based steel production by 2030 may undermine global efforts to cut emissions from the steel industry, according to a report released by Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

Currently, 11% of global CO₂ emissions come from steelmaking, largely via coal-fired blast furnaces. Transitioning to electric arc furnaces (EAF), which use recycled steel and require far less carbon, is seen as a key solution. However, India’s new projects are still mostly coal-dependent. GEM warned that unless India shifts its strategy, global EAF adoption could fall short of the 37% target set by the International Energy Agency (IEA) for net-zero goals by 2050.