On July 9, the 4th Conference on Green and Low-Carbon Development in the Steel Industry was held in Nanping, Fujian, with the theme “Technology Leading Low-Carbon Transition · Measurement Empowering Green Steel.” Co-hosted by the China Iron and Steel Association, the Metallurgical Industry Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the National Carbon Measurement Center (Fujian), the conference attracted more than 200 representatives from government departments, industry associations, enterprises, and research institutes, who engaged in discussions on topics such as pathways to carbon neutrality, carbon measurement systems, and collaborative carbon reduction across the entire industrial chain.

In his remarks, Li Yiren, Vice President of the China Iron and Steel Association, noted that industry policy has entered a new phase that places equal emphasis on capping total production capacity, capacity reduction through replacement, and the transition to low-carbon operations. He emphasized that carbon measurement and carbon data are key for enterprises to understand their carbon emissions profile and address challenges posed by the carbon market and green trade barriers. He suggested leveraging the Association’s EPD platform to promote the assetization of carbon data, break down barriers between energy consumption and low-carbon data, and harness the leading role of benchmark enterprises.

During the technical report session, Zhu Rong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, systematically outlined key technological directions such as negative-carbon smelting in converters and near-zero-carbon smelting via the short-process electric furnace; Zhang Xi, an expert from the National Climate Strategy Center, recommended that companies strengthen the coordinated management of carbon and pollution and participate in the development of international standards. Companies such as CITIC Pacific Special Steel shared their practical experience in establishing carbon accounting systems, providing the industry with a transition path worth emulating.

The conference announced several significant achievements: The *2026 Edition of the Steel Full Industry Chain EPD Platform Development Report* was officially unveiled; the group standard *Guidelines for the Construction of a Carbon Emission Factor Database for the Steel Industry* was released, and the development of related standards for iron ore and other materials was launched, with Baogang, Shougang, and Nangang among the first to validate them. The National Carbon Measurement Center Industry Alliance was established, and the “Carbon Pioneers” corporate carbon measurement diagnostic collaboration was launched to help create industry benchmarks.

Delegates also toured the exhibition hall of the National Carbon Measurement Center (Fujian). The conference fostered consensus on the low-carbon transition and, through policy briefings, technical exchanges, the release of standards, and multi-party collaboration, injected new momentum into the steel industry’s efforts to address environmental challenges and achieve high-quality development.