Analysis of the Synergies of Cutting Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in an Integrated Iron and Steel Enterprise in China

Abstract

The iron and steel industry in China is characterized by high energy consumption, high air pollutant emissions and high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and it is imperative to reduce air pollutants and control GHG emissions in the present and future. Quantifying the synergistic effects of air pollutants and GHG emissions reduction in the ISI is helpful for controlling the emissions of both jointly. Taking a typical integrated iron and steel works as a case study, the synergistic effect between the environmental impacts (EIs) of air pollutants and GHGs under different scenarios was quantified through a life cycle assessment (LCA). The total environmental impact of the business-as-usual scenario, ultra-low emissions scenario, carbon peak scenario and comprehensive emission reduction scenario were 1.629 × 10−10, 1.670 × 10−10, 1.322 × 10−10 and 1.341 × 10−10, respectively. Based on the analysis of synergistic effects, the comprehensive emission reduction scenario combined the other two to better coordinate the emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.