The steel giant lowers its 2030 emissions reduction targets, prompting criticism from campaigners who argue that its climate ambitions are losing credibility as it shifts focus away from meaningful interim milestones.
ArcelorMittal has scaled back one of its key medium-term climate commitments, prompting fresh criticism from campaigners who say the steelmaker is weakening the practical route to its 2050 net-zero pledge.
In its 2025 Sustainability Report, the Luxembourg-headquartered group said it now expects carbon intensity to fall by up to 10% by 2030, compared with its earlier aim of a 25% reduction against a 2018 baseline. It also removed a separate target for Europe that had called for a 35% cut in emissions intensity by the end of the decade. Both milestones were adopted in 2021.
The company said absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions have fallen by 47.7% since 2018, helped in part by divestments and closures of higher-carbon assets. It put its 2025 carbon intensity at 1.79 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per tonne of steel produced. ArcelorMittal still says it intends to reach net zero by 2050 and continues to point to investment in renewable energy projects.
Chief executive Aditya Mittal said the revised targets reflect pressures linked to competitiveness, re-industrialisation, inflation and energy security. He also argued that the company is taking a broader view of the transition, including supplying materials and solutions for other sectors and expanding into areas such as renewable energy.
But SteelWatch, a steel sector climate group, said the move leaves the company with a long-term ambition that is no longer backed by credible interim steps. In a report titled “Unmasking a deliberate retreat”, the organisation said ArcelorMittal was effectively stripping its net-zero promise of its delivery mechanism by weakening near-term goals while offering no comparable replacement.
SteelWatch also criticised the company’s investment profile, saying decarbonisation spending has remained insufficient and that blast furnace-based production continues to dominate its operating model. The group argued that, as an EU-based company, ArcelorMittal should be aligning itself with the bloc’s legally binding objective to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels.
The steelmaker’s stance on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme has also drawn scrutiny. According to SteelWatch, ArcelorMittal’s sustainability report backs a review of both the planned phase-out of free allowances and the overall ETS cap, language the campaign group says suggests carbon pricing is being treated as a cost to be contained rather than a driver of industrial change.
For industrial decarbonisation professionals, the revision is significant not only because of ArcelorMittal’s scale, but because it illustrates the growing tension between climate roadmaps and the commercial realities facing heavy industry. The company insists its strategy remains intact. Critics say the retreat from near-term targets makes that claim harder to sustain.
- https://www.edie.net/a-target-without-milestones-arcelormittal-accused-of-retreating-from-climate-goals/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/sustainability/2025-sustainability-report/ – ArcelorMittal’s 2025 Sustainability Report outlines the company’s progress in safety, climate action, innovation, and environmental performance. The report highlights a 47.7% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2018, with a 2025 group carbon intensity of 1.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per tonne of steel produced. The company now expects to achieve up to a 10% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, down from the previous 25% target. ArcelorMittal maintains its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and continues to invest in renewable energy projects globally.
- https://steelwatch.org/press-releases/arcelormittal-cuts-2030-climate-target-by-more-than-half-marking-a-regressive-shift-steelwatch-report-says/ – SteelWatch’s report criticises ArcelorMittal for reducing its 2030 emissions intensity target from 25% to up to 10% and dropping its Europe-specific target of 35%. The report highlights concerns over the company’s low decarbonisation spending, prolonged reliance on blast furnace production, and backing out of climate investments. SteelWatch argues that ArcelorMittal is ‘rewriting its climate strategy downwards’ and questions the credibility of its net-zero claim without a clear delivery pathway.
- https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/news/regulatory-news/arcelormittal-publishes-its-2025-sustainability-report-safer-smarter-growth – ArcelorMittal’s 2025 Sustainability Report details the company’s progress in safety transformation, climate action, innovation, and environmental performance. The report confirms a 47.7% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2018, with a 2025 group carbon intensity of 1.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per tonne of steel produced. The company now expects to achieve up to a 10% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, down from the previous 25% target. ArcelorMittal maintains its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and continues to invest in renewable energy projects globally.
- https://rails.arcelormittal.com/about-us/sustainability/ – ArcelorMittal’s sustainability page outlines the company’s commitment to leading the steel industry’s decarbonisation efforts and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The company had previously set a group target of reducing CO₂ emissions intensity by 25% by 2030 and a Europe-specific target of 35% by 2030. However, in its 2025 Sustainability Report, ArcelorMittal revised these targets, now expecting up to a 10% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, reflecting updated market and policy conditions since the 25% target was set in 2021.
- https://cdn.arcelormittal.com/media/kyqeahax/2025-sd-report-22-april-2026-final-upload.pdf – ArcelorMittal’s 2025 Sustainability Report provides detailed information on the company’s progress in safety, climate action, innovation, and environmental performance. The report confirms a 47.7% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2018, with a 2025 group carbon intensity of 1.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per tonne of steel produced. The company now expects to achieve up to a 10% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, down from the previous 25% target. ArcelorMittal maintains its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and continues to invest in renewable energy projects globally.
- https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/arcelormittal-publishes-its-2025-sustainability-report-safer-smarter-growth-2026-04-0 – ArcelorMittal’s 2025 Sustainability Report outlines the company’s progress in safety transformation, climate action, innovation, and environmental performance. The report confirms a 47.7% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2018, with a 2025 group carbon intensity of 1.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per tonne of steel produced. The company now expects to achieve up to a 10% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, down from the previous 25% target. ArcelorMittal maintains its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and continues to invest in renewable energy projects globally.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article references ArcelorMittal’s 2025 Sustainability Report, published on 23 April 2026. ([corporate.arcelormittal.com](https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/news/regulatory-news/arcelormittal-publishes-its-2025-sustainability-report-safer-smarter-growth?utm_source=openai)) The content appears original, with no evidence of prior publication. However, the report’s release date is recent, and the article’s publication date is not specified, raising concerns about the timeliness of the reporting. ([corporate.arcelormittal.com](https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/sustainability/sustainability-report-2025?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from ArcelorMittal’s CEO, Aditya Mittal, and SteelWatch. While these quotes are attributed, their earliest known usage cannot be independently verified. The lack of verifiable sources for these quotes raises concerns about their authenticity.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The article originates from edie.net, a niche publication focusing on environmental and sustainability news. While it is reputable within its niche, its reach and influence are limited compared to major news organisations. This raises questions about the independence and potential biases of the source.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about ArcelorMittal’s revised climate targets and the criticism from SteelWatch are plausible and align with known industry trends. However, the article lacks supporting details from other reputable outlets, making it difficult to fully verify the claims. The absence of specific factual anchors, such as exact figures or dates, further complicates verification.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents claims about ArcelorMittal’s revised climate targets and criticism from SteelWatch. However, the lack of independently verifiable quotes, reliance on a single source with limited reach, and absence of supporting details from other reputable outlets raise significant concerns about the content’s reliability and independence. ([corporate.arcelormittal.com](https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/news/regulatory-news/arcelormittal-publishes-its-2025-sustainability-report-safer-smarter-growth?utm_source=openai))
