The industrial sector is responsible for nearly a third of the United States’ total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, most of which come from burning fossil fuels to create heat for processes like melting metals and cooking food.[1] Moreover, industries like cement and chemicals release “process emissions” as byproducts of chemical reactions, and products made from fossil fuel feedstocks release emissions during their use or disposal.

A range of existing technologies can cut these emissions, spanning three broad categories, as shown in the figure above. The first category consists of solutions that reduce fossil fuel demand in industry, such as energy efficiency, material efficiency, and strategies like reuse and repair that extend the useful lives of products. The second category consists of solutions that replace fossil fuels with cleaner energy sources – whether replacing burning fossil fuels with electrified alternatives or using low-carbon fuels or feedstocks made from hydrogen, biomass, or derivative fuels. The third category refers to capturing carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and permanently storing it underground or in products that do not release CO2 over time – carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).

[1] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022. 2024. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks