Air Emissions — Programs and Actions
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In 1998, Alcoa Inc. established a Climate Change Strategy Team that developed and promoted our position on climate change, including our target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2010. We achieved that goal in 2003.
In June 2002, Alcoa Canada Primary Metals became the first company to sign a voluntary agreement with the Government of Québec to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). All the goals established in this agreement have been reached. At the end of 2008, our total GHG emissions had declined by close to 17%, while the intensity of emissions per ton of aluminum was reduced by 22%. A second GHG reduction agreement was signed in December 2008 for the 2008-2012 period.
A regional technical committee has been established to share best practices and help achieve these targets. Efforts have focused primarily on controlling anodic effects in the Electrolysis sector to reduce perfluorocarbon (PFC) emissions. The team has looked at the prevention, prediction, and treatment of anodic effects to reduce their frequency and duration.
Alcoa Inc. continues to pursue the development of GHG-free inert-anode aluminum smelting, although there remain technical and cost targets to overcome.
Alcoa participates in several external surveys on corporations and their efforts to address climate change and their carbon footprint. For example, we have participated in all six surveys of the Carbon Disclosure Project, a not-for-profit organization supporting institutional investors who seek to better understand climate-related risks and opportunities from the world’s largest companies. We have routinely ranked among the highest ratings within the metals and mining industry in this survey.
Alcoa is a member of the Business Leadership Team of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, an original member of the Green Power Market Development Group of the World Resources Institute, and a member of the Global Greenhouse Gas Register of the World Economic Forum. In late 2007, we became a founding reporter of the Climate Registry, agreeing to report GHG emissions individually from all of our large facilities in North America by 2010.
At the beginning of 2007, Alcoa joined nine major U.S. corporations and four leading environmental organizations to urge the United States government to swiftly implement strict regulations to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) has grown to more than 30 members, and we have been routinely sought out for input into leading federal policy development.
Monitoring and Controlling Process Emissions at the Source
All Alcoa Canada Primary Metals aluminum smelters are equipped with high-performance dry scrubbers to capture and treat fluoride and dust emissions in the Anode Manufacturing and Electrolysis sectors. The facilities are also equipped with numerous dust collectors to control emissions during the manipulation of raw materials and various parts of the manufacturing process.
Meters that continuously monitor emissions are positioned at the outlet of the scrubbers as well as at the roof vents outside the pot rooms. In addition, particle detectors or opacimeters have been installed at the scrubbers at the Deschambault and Bécancour smelters, and are currently being installed in Baie-Comeau.
Regular inspections are conducted to assure that this equipment is in peak working order. In the Electrolysis sector, the pot hoods are inspected to ensure optimal capture performance. The integrity of the bath cover is also checked as it plays a key role in minimizing emissions at the source. Work checklists are another essential tool in helping control emissions at the operational level.
The impact of emissions is also measured in the surrounding environment using various sampling points set up to monitor performance.
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Climate Change
Learn more about Alcoa's commitments and actions on global climate change.
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