SSAB to advocate for ambitious climate commitments at COP29 in Baku

SSAB is actively participating in the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of Business Sweden’s influential delegation. With the conference well underway, SSAB continues to stress the urgency for nations to heighten their climate ambitions and establish policies that drive investments and foster industrial decarbonization.

The Swedish pavilion, inaugurated on November 12 at noon local time, has already become a vibrant meeting place for key discussions. Business Sweden's CEO, Jan Larsson, joined Sweden's chief climate negotiators, UN officials, COP presidents, and other climate experts and business leaders for the opening event.

“Swedish companies offer groundbreaking solutions that can drive the green transition globally. At COP29, we are showcasing these solutions and the potential that Swedish companies bring to the necessary transition. Sweden has the tools – that is our message here in Baku,” said Jan Larsson, CEO of Business Sweden, during the inauguration.

The pavilion serves as a collaborative space where business leaders, government representatives, climate negotiators, and organizations gather to discuss actionable climate solutions. Business Sweden, in partnership with various Swedish authorities and companies, emphasizes Sweden’s role as a “climate matchmaker,” using data-driven methods to align countries' climate needs with innovative Swedish solutions, including advanced technologies, policy measures, financial instruments, and expert knowledge.

The Swedish delegation features a wide range of participants, from established export giants to cutting-edge tech firms. Notable members include AFRY, Alfa Laval, BCC, ClimateView, Doconomy, E.ON, EKN, Swedish Energy Agency, EQT, Flower, Hitachi Energy, Ingrid Capacity, Inter IKEA Group, Minesto, Normative, Ragn-Sells, Scania, Sida, Siemens Energy, Spowdi, SSAB, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, Tetra Pak, and TrusTrace. Together, they are reinforcing Sweden's position as a global leader in the green, circular, and digital transition.

Emma Modéer-Wiking, Head of Sustainability at Business Sweden, articulated the delegation’s goal: “Our collective mission at COP29 is to motivate countries to elevate their climate commitments by demonstrating that effective solutions are already available and can be scaled. Acting as a climate matchmaker, we aim to enhance Sweden’s contribution to the Paris Agreement and accelerate our journey to net zero by 2045.”

SSAB has been a focal point in discussions around decarbonizing the steel industry. The company is presenting its strategic transition from coking coal to fossil-free electricity and its plans to transform its Nordic operations to produce carbon-neutral steel using recycled materials and virgin iron ore. In 2023, SSAB launched SSAB Zero™, a near zero-emission steel made entirely from recycled scrap and powered by fossil-free energy.

In collaboration with LKAB and Vattenfall, SSAB has also pioneered HYBRIT® technology, which uses hydrogen from fossil-free electricity to produce sponge iron, releasing only water instead of CO2. This iron is then melted into steel in electric arc furnaces powered by renewable energy. To date, approximately 1,000 tonnes of steel have been produced using this method.

Throughout the week, SSAB will participate in various seminars on clean technology innovations and the steel value chain. The company is also part of a high-level panel that will address the progress made on the Steel Standards Principles. COP29, which runs from November 11 to 22, continues to provide a crucial platform for driving global climate action, with the Swedish pavilion situated prominently in the blue negotiation zone.

Source and Photo: SSAB