Quaderni IRCrES 19. Cap.3

Capitolo 3

Siderurgia e sostenibilità: una sfida possibile?

Steel industry and sustainability: A feasible challenge?

Anna Giulia Agnese Pece

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di Scienze Politiche e Sociali, Laurea Magistrale in Politiche Pubbliche, curriculum Modelli e strumenti per la gestione del welfare e dello sviluppo sostenibile (MOST), Largo A. Gemelli 1, 20123 Milano, Italia.

corresponding author: annagiuliaagnese.pece01@icatt.it

 

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the steel industry has undergone profound transformations, and understanding how these changes have affected its environmental, social, and economic impact becomes crucial in achieving the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 as mandated at the European level.

Using panel data from 12 European countries from 2014 to 2019, this study aims to identify the key drivers of sustainability in the steel industry. Among the critical factors, particular attention will be given to technological and sustainable innovation, as it represents one of the fundamental strategies for implementing the ecological transition of the European steel sector. Environmental regulation also remains a widely used tool today for achieving sustainable development.

Through a panel analysis with fixed effects, the results show that countries implementing stringent environmental policies, whether through market-based or non-market instruments, have a significant impact on reducing pollutant emissions from the steel industry. Greater effectiveness in controlling pollutants also seems to be achieved in countries where the sector is subject to higher pollution taxes. The results obtained provide some evidence to support Porter’s hypothesis, which is based on the effects of regulation, while not exhaustively addressing all the interesting aspects suggested by this study.

Further research and insights are needed to refine our understanding of which tools can more rapidly and sustainably lead us to climate neutrality.

Keywords: environmental regulation; porter hypothesis; technological innovation; European steel sector; human capital.

 

doi: 10.23760/2499-6661.2023.19.03

isbn: 978-88-98193-34-9

issn (online): 2499-6661

 

How to cite

Pece, A.G.A. (2023). Siderurgia e sostenibilità: una sfida possibile? In M. Nosvelli (cur.). Ambiente, salute e lavoro: analisi empiriche per uno sviluppo integrato (pp. 43-56). Quaderni IRCrES 19. CNR-IRCrES.
http://dx.doi.org/10.23760/2499-6661.2023.19.03