Buying toxic assets with no transition plan: Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel has raised serious concerns among environmental and community groups in the United States. The US Steel facilities that Nippon bought release hazardous air pollution that is attributable to over 120 deaths yearly in nearby communities. Nippon Steel's investor presentation about the acquisition of US Steel says nothing about pollution control. Failure to prioritise transition plans away from polluting blast furnaces perpetuates the exploitation of vulnerable communities and undermines human rights. Without any commitments from Nippon Steel to transition away from coal, local communities are concerned Nippon will continue to perpetuate massive health and environmental damage. 

Leaving communities behind: Nippon Steel's move to acquire US Steel is being met with resistance by union workers, citing concerns that Nippon Steel will not respect existing labour, job security and retirement agreements. Thus far, Nippon Steel has only committed to upholding these agreements until the current collective bargaining agreement expires. Nippon Steel's reluctance to invest in cleaner technologies, such as green hydrogen direct reduced iron, could threaten the long term job security of the US steelworkers as blast furnaces are at risk of becoming stranded assets. 

Locking in coal for steel: Nippon Steel's continued reliance on outdated coal-fired blast furnaces poses a dire threat to climate mitigation efforts. Additionally, Nippon Steel owns a stake in a number of coal mines (five, according to the Global Energy Monitor) and is looking to further expand its coal mine ownership, further indicating that it's relying on a coal-based future. Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel comes at a grave cost to people and environment, as it will keep coal-fired furnaces running longer than a stable climate can afford, leaving the least responsible people to bear the brunt of climate injustice. Blast furnaces, which rely on coal, are the main technologies used by Nippon steel and US Steel. Although Nippon Steel reports a 33% reduction of emission and a draw to their 2030 goal of 75 million tons, this has been brought about by reduction in production as opposed to transitioning to fossil-free steelmaking technologies, leaving many doubts that an increase in production via US Steel won't bring back higher emissions. 

Inadequate climate plans: Nippon Steel's failure to provide a concrete transition and phase-out plan for blast furnaces underscores a blatant disregard for international climate agreements and basic human rights. Central to achieving the target set out within the Paris Agreement is the rapid decarbonization of industries reliant on fossil fuels, such as steel production. Nippon Steel's slow adoption of transitory measures and ending the use of coal undermines the industrial decarbonization goals, jeopardises the collective effort to avert catastrophic climate change, especially with its position as fourth-largest steel producer. 

Lobbying against climate action: According to Lobby Map, Nippon Steel has consistently lobbied against new climate policy, which undermines the legitimacy of its commitment to climate action. They have lobbied against the adoption of policies including a carbon tax and emission trading undermines action towards climate change. Additionally, Nippon Steel's president Hashimoto opposed the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, stating that carbon taxing does not meet the purpose of reducing CO2. 

Pollution of the waterways- a health hazard: In 2022, Nippon Steel's East Nippon Works in Kimitsu Japan was found to be discharging cyanide into nearby waterways. This happened at least 59 times over a span of five years. Under the Water Pollution Prevention Law, the standard for "no detection" of cyanide is less than 0.2 milligram per liter. However, Nippon Steel's internal investigation uncovered instances where cyanide levels exceeded acceptable limits, posing significant risks to public health and the environment. 

The repercussions of cyanide pollution extend beyond immediate health hazards. Nippon Steel's failure to disclose these findings in a timely and transparent manner erodes trust within the local community and undermines efforts to address climate change. The company's reluctance to acknowledge the presence of cyanide in waterways near its facilities reflects a disregard for environmental regulations. Furthermore, Nippon Steel's attempt to downplay the severity of the situation by attributing it to misunderstanding underscores systemic shortcomings in its environmental management practices.