Breaking the carbon shackles: Navigating the path to decarbonising the Malaysian steel sector

The steel sector contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. According to \nthe 2015 Paris Agreement, 91% or more of the direct emissions from the sector must be reduced by 2050. The \nInternational Energy Agency posits that the steel sector is one of the more difficult sectors to decarbonise due to \nits heat requirements, use of carbon as a process input, low-profit margins, high capital intensity, long asset \nlifespan and trade obstacles. This research was initiated out of a preliminary interest in obtaining clear insights \ninto the feasibility of decarbonising the steel sector in Malaysia to reach net zero as early as 2050. Considering \nthe imperative of the global decarbonisation trend and the formidable challenges confronting the steel sector in \nMalaysia, it is incumbent upon stakeholders to explore the avenues for achieving the decarbonisation of the \nMalaysian steel sector. In this context, we offer an initial exploration of this viewpoint, wherein the collective \nfocus is directed towards the meticulous examination of the drivers inherent in Technological Innovation Systems \nthat hold the potential to expedite the transition towards steel decarbonisation. Subsequently, we ought to \nformulate and implement public policies that strategically leverage these drivers, thereby fostering and promoting the vital process of decarbonisation within the Malaysian steel sector