China and India are expanding coal-based steel production at an alarming rate, with India and China accounting for 86% of new coal-based blast furnace capacity globally, including 319 million tons per annum of carbon-heavy capacity under construction or announced. This surge threatens to derail global climate goals as the steel industry contributes 11% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Users are sharply divided. Some argue that China must cut steel output by over 90 million metric tons by 2025 to meet decarbonisation targets, while others highlight that India and China are driving the expansion of coal-based steel capacity, which could significantly worsen the climate crisis. A user noted that only 5% of India's planned coal-intensive steel capacity has started construction, suggesting there is still time to shift towards lower-emission technologies before these projects are finalized.

The consensus is clear: the rapid expansion of coal-based steel production by China and India is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, and transitioning to cleaner methods like electric arc furnaces and green hydrogen is urgently needed. However, the debate remains on whether reducing output or accelerating cleaner technologies is the more effective solution.