Building a Sustainable Future Highlights of AISI’s sustainability booklet   The steel industry’s long-standing commitment to sustainability is backed by significant investment in state-of-the-art facilities that improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and heighten productivity.   The industry has reduced energy intensity per ton of steel produced by 33% since 1990, the Kyoto benchmark year.   The American steel industry is the only significant domestic industry that has reduced its total energy consumption while increasing its production from 1990 to 2005. (U.S. EPA Report on Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sink 1990-2005.)   AISI’s long-term focus on recycling has resulted in a continuous steady rise in the recycling rate for steel, with an all-time high overall recycling rate of 82.5%.   We believe the first principle of any approach to climate change rests with the reality that climate change is a global concern that can only be addressed effectively on a global basis.   The American steel industry is conducting research on next-generation iron and steelmaking technologies that will dramatically reduce CO2 emissions.   NOTE: The booklets accompanying AISI’s Report —including the sustainability booklet highlighted here — are available on the AISI website.