Steelmakingisenergyandmaterialintensive.Thatiswhysteelisalwaysdemonizedandconfrontedwithincriminationsandrequirementsforreductionofitsenvironmentalimpact.Thosepuredemands-likeforemissiontradingareshort-sightedastheydonotbaseonanintegratedapproach.InsteadtheymerelyconsiderCO2emissionsduringtheproductionprocess.Aforward-looking,globalclimateandenvironmentalpolicyneedsasustainablelifecycleapproach.Thereforeitmustforexamplealsotakeintoaccountthecontributionofsteeltowardscuttingemissionsinitsapplication-intheenergy.automotiveandhouseholdsectors.Steelwillplayakeyroleinclimateprotection.One-thirdoftheremainingCO2reductiontargetplannedinGermanyby2020canonlybeachievedwiththehelpofinnovativesteelproductsandtheirapplications.ThisistheconclusionofanindependentstudybyTheBostonConsultingGroup（BCG）onbehalfofSteelInstituteVDEh,andGermanSteelFederation.ThestudycomparesCO2savingsfromimportantinnovativesteelapplications（suchasmoreefficientpowerstations,windturbines,orlightervehicles）withCO2emissionscausedbysteelproduction.Byadoptingthiscomprehensiveperspective,thestudyforthefirsttimeprovidesaCO2balanceforthematerialsteelbycomparingtheCO2reductionsmadepossiblethroughinnovativesteelapplicationswiththeCO2emissionsresultingfromsteelproduction.ThebalancewascalculatedonthebasisofeightselectedinnovativesteelapplicationsinGermanyfortheperiod2007to2020,wherebytheCO2emissionscausedbysteelproductionwereconsideredthroughouttheentirelifecycleoftheparticularsteeluse.Fortheselectedexamples,theuseofinnovativesteelsresultedinatotalsavingspotentialof74MtofCO2in2020.Thecalculationsarebasedonconservativeassumptions;forexamplewithoutcountingofpotentialsbyexportedsteelorbycomparisonwithcompetitivematerials.TheproductionofsteelinGermany,includingtheextractiono
