Industry leaders pioneering the use of hydrogen to decarbonise the steel industry met on Monday in Delhi to discuss its potential and challenges. The event was organised by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a science and technology-based think tank, to launch its report Advanced Process Simulation Modelling for Hydrogen Application in Steel and Cement – A Technical and Economic Assessment.

Climate change is a reality and a formidable challenge globally and in India. Across the world, there has been a rise in extreme climate events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves. The severity and frequency of these extreme events are projected to escalate in the coming years (IPCC, 2022). These events not only endanger natural ecosystems but also pose substantial risks to human systems. However, it is crucial to recognise that the distribution of the impact of climate change is not equal across the world.

The 'No Silver Bullet' series explores various potential pathways for India’s transition to net-zero emissions, discusses the challenges and constraints, and provides directional insights based on long-term modelling using system dynamics. To complement the findings from cost-optimisation models, simulation modelling based on systems thinking was used to determine the impact of competition for natural (and other) resources and the ensuing non-linear feedback dynamics.

Decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors calls for measures that can reduce emissions from both fuel combustion and different processes. These measures can yield incremental emission savings for abating emissions at scale. As the last frontier towards the net-zero goal, hard-to-abate sectors such as steel and cement manufacturing units must look to transition to scalable solutions that can offer energy saving opportunities and emissions reduction. In this study, we examine whether hydrogen can play a pivotal role in decarbonising steel and cement sectors.

The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity recently concluded in Cali, Colombia. Representatives from U.N. countries tried to negotiate measures to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, which threatens both human well-being and the stability of human societies. A key sticking point was who’d pay for implementing these measures and how much.