FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 9, 2025

Press Contact:

Ariana Criste

ariana@industriouslabs.org

Cleveland, OH — A new report from Industrious Labs finds that Cleveland’s ability to meet recently announced goals in the city’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) depends on transitioning its largest climate polluter, Cleveland-Cliffs’ Cleveland Works steel plant, to clean technology. Without swift and decisive action from city and county leaders, Cleveland’s climate goals, along with forthcoming plans from Cuyahoga County and the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, will remain out of reach.

“Mayor Bibb has put forward a bold and achievable goal that will make Cleveland a climate leader. To reach the region’s goals, leaders from across city, county, and state agencies must work together to drive a clean steel transition at the city’s #1 climate polluter, Cleveland Works,” said Hilary Lewis, Steel Director at Industrious Labs. “Our research found that meeting Cleveland’s climate goals and protecting public health require investing in significant upgrades at Cleveland Works now.”

Cleveland Works’ outsized climate and public health impact is due to its reliance on outdated coal-based blast furnaces, which burn large volumes of coal to extract iron from ore, releasing massive amounts of carbon dioxide along with harmful air pollutants like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter.

Industrious Labs’ research found that the CAP relies on Cleveland-Cliffs’ company-wide climate targets as a proxy for local progress. However, the report makes clear that there are no plans to reduce emissions at Cleveland Works, based on the company’s own public statements. The drop in emissions from 2018 to 2022, which the CAP highlights as a success, was due to temporary idling, not climate action. Emissions surged by 45% when operations resumed in 2023.

Cleveland Works is the single largest source of climate pollution in Cleveland. Industrious Labs used the City of Cleveland's business-as-usual scenario from the CAP to estimate 2023 emissions and found that Cleveland Works’ reported emissions are responsible for 47% of the city’s estimated emissions.

Using EPA’s COBRA model and the most recent National Emissions Inventory (NEI) data, Industrious Labs’ Dirty Steel, Dangerous Air report estimates that health-harming pollution from the facility contributes to more than 9,000 asthma symptom cases, over 1,700 lost work days, and up to 39 premature deaths annually. These harms fall disproportionately on nearby neighborhoods, where 62% of residents are people of color and 61% are low-income.

Cleveland Works’ blast furnace #6, which has been idle since late 2024, is nearing the end of its campaign life. The report highlights this urgent opportunity to move away from polluting, coal-based methods and toward cleaner, modern steelmaking. Replacing blast furnace #6 alone with clean technology that uses green hydrogen and electricity to make steel could cut Cleveland Works’ climate pollution by 47%, dramatically reduce harmful air pollution, and help Cleveland achieve up to 72% of its 2030 climate goals. Starting with blast furnace #6 before 2030 would also avoid $150-$425 million in maintenance investments for Cleveland-Cliffs.

The report outlines four key action areas reflecting the whole-of-government coordination needed to meet Cleveland’s Climate Action Plan goals and advance a clean steel transition, including:

• The City of Cleveland proactively support and engage Cleveland-Cliffs in immediately beginning to convert BF #6 to green H2-DRI-EAF to meet its Climate Action Plan Objective 40 and in converting both coal-based furnaces to clean steel by 2042 to meet Cleveland’s Climate Action Plan goals
• Cleveland’s Department of Public Health set a new goal of reducing health-harming pollution from existing sources in its next strategic plan.
• The Ohio Economic & Business Development Corporation supports the transition at Cleveland Works by offering competitive incentives, subsidies, and tax breaks that include infrastructure development and job training programs.
• State legislators, counties, and the Public Utility Commission of Ohio reduce barriers to clean energy permitting, achieve hydrogen cost-parity and infrastructure development, and mandate affordable industrial electricity rates without raising residential costs.

“Families and workers in Cleveland are breathing toxic air linked to asthma, cancer, and premature death, but it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Emma Glasser, Analyst at Industrious Labs. “City leaders have a chance to protect public health and meet their climate goals by supporting Cleveland-Cliffs in converting blast furnace #6 to clean technology now and committing to a full transition by 2042.”

The public comment period on Cuyahoga County’s Climate Action Plan closed on June 30, and the public comment period for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program draft plan opens on July 14.

The full report is available here.

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About Industrious Labs:

Industrious Labs is focused on building a movement to clean up heavy industry through network and capacity building, research and analysis, data-driven campaigns, and sharp communications.