Nucor and Global Warming   Constantly in the media, Global Warming is a topic of concern almost everywhere you go.   In that discussion steel mills are often bashed unmercifully.   Few industries are as dependant upon carbon as the steel industry.  Consequently, few industries discharge carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) in quantities comparable to the steel industry.   Does this mean that the critics that claim the steel industry is a major global warming contributor are correct?   No, surprisingly the steel industry has actually decreased its carbon dioxide emissions during the last decade.   Consider the following EPA report:        1990 1995 1997 1999 2000 Carbon Dioxide Source (MMtpy) (MMtpy) (MMtpy) (MMtpy) (MMtpy) Total Carbon Dioxide 4998.5 5305.9 5568 5665.5 5840 Cement Manufacture 33.3 36.8 38.3 40 41.1 Waste Combustion 14.1 18.6 21.3 21.8 22.5 Aluminum Production 6.3 5.3 5.6 5.9 5.4 Iron and Steel Production 85.4 74.4 76.1 64.4 65.7 Ammonia Manufacture 18.5 18.9 19.5 18.9 18 Ferroalloys 2 1.9 2 2 1.7 Fossil Fuel Combustion 4779.8 5085 5339.6 5448.6 5623.3             MMtpy=Million Metric tons per year of carbon dioxide equivalent         Source:  USEPA Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2000       The Iron and Steel Industry have actually reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 23% during the last decade.   The countries that have accepted the Kyoto Accord have agreed to reduce their carbon dioxide emission to 6% below their 1990 levels.   Based on that standard the Iron and Steel Industry has far exceeded even Kyoto expectations because we are have already reduced our emission almost four times more than that requirement.    So when it comes to global warming the steel industry has already risen to the challenge and exceeded even the most vigorous expectations.   How does Nucor fit into this picture?   Nucor is part of the mini mill sector that is almost entirely recycling based.   Recycling conserves natural resources and emits relatively small amounts of carbon dioxide during the steel making process as compared to making steel from iron ore.    Because it takes about two time as much carbon dioxide to make steel from ore instead of recycling it, the mini mill industry and Nucor in particular are a major part of the solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.   Continuing to improve our environmental stewardship, Nucor has initiated an Energy and VOC intensity goal into the Nucor Presidents Environmental Award.   To meet these goals that will continue to decrease our greenhouse gas emissions, increase our profitability and improve our environmental compliance we must all do our part.   Finding ways to reduce carbon waste, use less energy, use less paint and still deliver the best quality product on time to our customers should be the goal of every Nucor employee.   On average, the steel industry has a good story to tell.   Nucor is not average and has an even better story to tell.   We are the success story that is pushing the environmental impact of the industry down.     Remember:  “Nothing average ever stood as a monument to progress. When progress is looking for a partner it doesn't turn to those who believe they are only average. It turns instead to those who are forever searching and striving to become the best they possibly can. If we seek the average level we cannot hope to achieve a high level of success. “ A. Lou Vickery   We have already accomplished much but, there is still more that we can do as we continue to set the environmental standard for steel and steel products companies across the world.