The Race for Green Steel

Steel is everywhere — from buildings and cars to wind turbines and solar panels — but it’s also one of the world’s biggest carbon emitters. So how do we decarbonize an industry that makes up 7–11% of global emissions?In this episode of Green Shift, host David Austin is joined by co-hosts Dr. Victor Nian (CSER) and Jordan Kronen, along with special guest Hasliza Omar, PhD candidate in energy security at the University of New South Wales. Together, they dive into:🔹 What green steel really means — and how it’s made🔹 The role of hydrogen (green, gray, pink… the whole rainbow!)🔹 Why nuclear could be a game-changer for industrial heat🔹 The geopolitics of high-grade iron ore and hydrogen supply🔹 Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM) and what they mean for Asia🔹 The opportunities — and pitfalls — for Southeast Asia in building a green steel ecosystemHasliza also shares her vision of a “green corridor” future where nations cooperate across resources, technology, and finance to power a low-carbon world.🎧 Whether you’re interested in climate tech, industrial policy, or the geopolitics of energy, this episode connects the dots on one of the hardest — and most important — sectors to decarbonize.Timestamps:00:00 Intro – The hydrogen rainbow03:00 How steel is made: traditional vs. green steel06:00 Green hydrogen explained09:00 Nuclear’s role in industrial decarbonization18:00 Why steel is crucial to climate goals20:00 Geopolitics of high-grade iron ore23:00 Australia’s hydrogen dilemma24:00 CBAM and green steel trade27:00 Asia’s unique challenges and opportunities35:00 Policy advice for Southeast Asia39:00 Utopian vs. realistic futures42:00 Closing thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.