Simon Richards, the sustainability director at Sir Robert McAlpine, has raised alarms regarding the impact of net zero regulations on the UK's steel industry. He argues that while reducing carbon emissions is essential, the current policies risk offshoring production, which does not decarbonize but merely relocates emissions and jobs overseas. This shift could expose the UK to volatile market conditions and rising tariffs, which he deems a matter of national security. Richards stresses the importance of considering the 'social value' and 'resilience' of the steel sector, as decisions made in construction specifications affect the livelihoods of steelworkers in regions like Scunthorpe, Sheffield, and Port Talbot. In response to the challenges faced by the industry, the UK Prime Minister has announced plans to nationalize British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, which was previously managed by Chinese owners Jingye, to prevent the shutdown of its blast furnaces. However, the industry continues to struggle with high energy costs that hinder its competitiveness against cheaper foreign steel.