In the quest for a more sustainable future, the industrial sector remains at the nexus of the transformation, facing the intertwined challenges of air pollution and global climate change. Within the vast industrial landscape, the steel, cement, crude oil refining, and glass production sectors have been distinctly selected for this report because of their substantial contributions to global emissions and their unique operational and environmental footprints. These industries are not only distinguished by their significant emissions, but also embody the diversity and complexity inherent in the modern challenges of decarbonisation. In this context, technologies such as carbon capture and storage, the use of green hydrogen in steel production, the incorporation of alternative binders in cement manufacturing and the deployment of electric furnaces in glass production have the potential to change the game. However, while these innovations hold promise for drastically reducing GHG emissions, their wider effects on other atmospheric pollutants, both positive and negative, deserve to be explored in depth. As part of TFTEI's commitment to environmental stewardship, this report offers a complex analysis of these sectors, in order to understand the multifaceted impacts of these technologies. Our ambition is not only to highlight the pressing needs for sustainable progress, but also to highlight their wider environmental implications, thereby fostering a harmonized approach to industrial innovation, environmental health, and policy formulation.

Background informal technical document on the analysis of the impact of decarbonisation on emissions of air pollutants in selected industrial sectors – 2023