New Delhi, May 20 -- The steel industry, a major contributor to global carbon emissions, is under increasing pressure to adopt cleaner technologies.

Responsible for over 10 per cent of worldwide emissions, the sector relies heavily on coal-based blast furnaces, particularly in developing nations.

While China continues to lead in steel production capacity, India has emerged as the most polluting producer. According to Global Energy Monitor (GEM), India also has the largest pipeline of new steel projects, with over 350 million tonnes per year under development.

Most of these upcoming facilities are expected to use coal, due to the limited availability of scrap metal, which is key to cleaner steelmaking methods.

"India is now the bellwet...