U.S. Steel Sale Poses Climate and Health Risks, Experts Warn

Washington, DC – On Monday, climate and public health experts convened for a panel at the National Press Club to explore the overlooked consequences of the U.S. Steel sale. Ahead of today’s visit from Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and the U.S. Steel shareholder vote and “people’s vote” on Friday, April 12, the panel explored the climate and health effects of U.S. Steel’s operations and pending sale.

• Panel recording is available here. 

The potential sale of U.S. Steel raises significant climate and public health concerns, as its operations emit over 19 million metric tons of CO2e annually and discharge thousands of tons of hazardous air pollutants. For example, in U.S. Steel’s hometown, their Mon Valley Works contributes to Allegheny County ranking in the top 1% of counties for cancer risk from toxic air emissions, with 90% of that risk attributable to coke oven emissions, 90% of which come from the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works. Students in school districts where these facilities reside have asthma rates of nearly three times the state and national averages. The company has repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act in the Mon Valley, resulting in over $56 million in enforcement orders and settlements since January 1, 2020.

In light of these concerns, a coalition of climate, environmental justice and consumer advocacy organizations sent a letter to the Biden administration urging them to evaluate potential mergers and acquisitions in the domestic steel industry through a health and climate lens. 

The climate and public health experts released the following remarks on the panel:

Yong Kwon, Senior Policy Advisor in the Industrial Transformation campaign at the Sierra Club stated: “The iron and steel industry has been evolving with society’s needs throughout history. The great social need of our time is mitigating climate change, which is threatening human wellbeing and biodiversity across the world. 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the steel industry. We now have the capital and know-how to adopt a different approach to making steel that minimizes this impact - and we expect all steelmakers, including U.S. Steel Company and Nippon Steel Company, to be contributing to this transition.” 

Germaine Patterson, Clairton resident and a Community Health Worker at Women for a Healthy Environment said: “As a life-long resident of Mon Valley and a community health worker, I have seen first-hand some of the health consequences of pollution from U.S. Steel facilities. The fact that local schools have asthma clinics on campus shows how much community members are harmed by the air pollution. And there are many illnesses that are linked to pollution from these facilities that people are simply not aware of. We deserve clean air. Operators of U.S. Steel facilities must not be allowed to continue paying-to-pollute." 

Hilary Lewis, Steel Director, Industrious Labs said: "Following historic investments by the Department of Energy in fossil-free steel production in the U.S., the imperative for U.S. Steel to modernize its facilities has never been clearer. Investing in clean, modern facilities will benefit communities, the climate, workers, and shareholders alike, but we have yet to see any plans that meet the moment. Without major investments, U.S. Steel will continue to fall behind its competitors.” 

Matt Groch, Senior Director of Decarbonization at Mighty Earth and the panel organizer stated: “Nippon Steel lacks a concrete plan to clean up its steel supply chain and is actually expanding its use of dirty coal. This goes against moves by US industries to decarbonize. We urge US regulators not to give the green light to Nippon to buy US Steel as it poses a significant threat to people and the planet.”