Nearly two-thirds of people in the UK support government investment to help the steel industry decarbonise, according to a recent YouGov poll. The survey into perceptions of the UK steel industry among the British public found that 66% of adults supported government financial aid in the steel industry to help it reduce its carbon emissions.
Seven in 10 UK adults would prefer the UK Government to invest in UK steel rather than sourcing cheaper steel from abroad. While 65% believe the UK Government should invest in UK steel, so that it can be made with fewer carbon emissions, even if it is more expensive over sourcing the cheapest possible steel from abroad.
The poll also showed that 55% of adults believe the government should put money into making steel in an environmentally-friendly way, as opposed to putting money into alternative projects that also have potential to protect the environment.
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Tata Steel UK said the survey reflects a growing consensus among the public that the country needs to transition towards greenery technologies and industries to reduce its impact on the environment. It also ensures the country has a secure, resilient and strong manufacturing sector.
Chairman Henrik Adam said: “The UK steel industry is at a crossroads - we must decide whether to give up on steel, and in doing so lose our steel self-sufficiency and resilience as well as thousands of well-paid jobs in steel communities. Or, we take an alternative path and transform the way we make steel to make it fit for the future.
“The public understands that having a secure supply of primary manufacturing material today is as important as it has ever been. Anyone who has witnessed supply chain shortages in recent years – from PPE and semi-conductors during the pandemic to the shortage of domestic energy production – knows the importance of building domestic resilience in essential industries.
“In a volatile and uncertain world, a strong domestic steel industry is a vital pillar of our economic independence, industrial resilience and national security. There is clear support from voters for a plan for the future where Britain leads the world in the Green Industrial Revolution, we can grasp it now or watch this great opportunity slip away.”
He added: “The UK has a proud history of steelmaking, but we need to look forward. Britain could lead the next technological leap forward to produce green steel for the wind and solar farms to power us, the electric vehicles rolling off the production lines, the major infrastructure projects, and the efficient green buildings of the future.”
Tata Steel UK is aiming to produce net-zero steel by 2045 at the latest, and to have reduced 30% of its CO2 emissions by 2030.
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