Carbon emission, or CO₂, is a greenhouse gas that significantly impacts global climate change. Human activities are the major sources of carbon emissions, including energy production by power plants burning fossil fuels, transportation such as cars, airplanes, and ships, and industry activities, such as manufacturing processes. 

The industry sector is responsible for a quarter of global CO₂ emissions, including energy production, manufacturing, construction, and mining sources, according to the research conducted by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2022.

Research and Development (R&D) activities are crucial in reducing CO₂ emissions in the industry sector to realize more efficient production processes, new materials, and carbon capture technologies, contributing to the global effort to combat climate change. In the steel industry, for example, hydrogen (H₂)-based ironmaking, the removal of oxygen from iron ore, is being developed. Using electric arc furnaces will also contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions and accelerate the recycling of steel. 

Thanks to such efforts, the annual increase in global CO₂ emissions over the decade to 2023 was slightly over 0.5%, the lowest growth since the Great Depression, according to the IEA.

See also: CO₂ Emission in the Steel Industry

Direct CO2 emissions from industry in the Net Zero Scenario, 2000-2030 (Source: IEA)