<p>Iron and steel have been the backbone of industrialisation and mobility for centuries and remain modern materials whose production, however, causes 7% of global CO₂ emissions. Major technological changes in the steel industry can reduce these emissions to almost zero by using hydrogen for the direct reduction of iron ore and establishing a&#xa0;consistent circular economy, among other things, and thus make a&#xa0;significant contribution to global climate targets. The article outlines these technological changes and their consequences along the steel process chain. Quality fluctuations due to higher tolerance limits for tramp and impurity elements have an impact on production processes and product longevity. Nevertheless, impurity and defect-tolerant steels and flexible AI-supported manufacturing processes make it possible to increase the material efficiency of modern steels. The use of high-strength steels not only enables consistent lightweight vehicle construction. Particularly in structural steel engineering and pipeline construction, the qualification of high-strength steels and their multiple use can lead to a&#xa0;significant reduction in the amount of crude steel required. Overall, steel offers an enormous potential for reducing CO₂ emissions thanks to its excellent recyclability, long-lasting products and high material efficiency.</p>