Alcoa: Environment: EcoAlcoa: Climate Change

As a company whose core Values include a global commitment to sustainability, Alcoa supports climate change action with other corporate leaders, governments and citizens groups wherever possible. In the US, Alcoa is a founding member of the United States Climate Action Partnership as well as the Global Roundtable on Climate Change. In Brazil, Alcoa has joined the Climate Action Defense Compact, an agreement to work towards limiting and stopping global warming caused by greenhouse gases. In Australia, Alcoa is partnering with other companies to sequester CO2 in bauxite residue. These and other efforts keep Alcoa at the lead of a global effort to address climate change responsibly and sustainably.

View video testimony to the US House of Representatives about Alcoa's support of the American Clean Energy and Security Act
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A key factor in reducing greenhouse emissions is energy efficiency. Because of the amount of energy required to make aluminum from ore, any increase in energy efficiency—through process improvements and through the use of recycled feedstock—can make Alcoa both greener and more competitive.

We believe in using renewable energy

Alcoa is also actively increasing its supply of cost-effective renewable resources and actively supports the Green Power Market Development Group, a collaboration of 13 leading corporations and the World Resources Institute dedicated to building corporate markets for green power. Our understanding of the importance of renewable energy goes back to 1917, when we began using hydroelectric power as a key source of energy for smelting operations worldwide. Today, in North America alone, our own hydro facilities generate more than 5.4 billion kilowatt hours for Alcoa operations. In 2007, our first greenfield smelter in 20 years went on line in Iceland, powered by sustainable hydropower. For a second project in Iceland, we are currently evaluating geothermal power. If built, this would be the world's first geo-powered aluminum facility.
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We believe in raising the bar

Alcoa has a set of strategic targets for our businesses and locations to integrate all aspects of sustainability into their day-to-day operations. These are continuously being measured, evaluated, and updated.
See the Strategic Sustainability Targets

We believe that our climate change policy is part of a bigger picture

At Alcoa, our vision is to be the best company in the world—in the eyes of our customers, shareholders, communities, and people. Environmental responsibility is built into our core Values. We support pollution prevention and sustainable development by incorporating social responsibility, economic success, and environmental excellence into our decision-making process. We measure and assess our performance and are open and transparent in our communications.
Read our corporate Vision and Values statement

We believe that our product has an important role to play

As a light, strong, versatile metal that recycles over and over again, aluminum offers energy-saving solutions to consumers and industry that few other materials can match. Aluminum can improve fuel economy and reduce emissions in automobiles, trucks, trains, and ships. In beverage cans, it recycles directly from scrap back into can stock—something few other container materials can do. The process saves 95% of the energy used to make new can sheet.
Download a technical paper on life cycle analysis (PDF)

Aluminum will be greenhouse gas neutral by 2030

In the critical transportation industry, our research in lifecycle modeling has shown that by 2030 the emissions of the entire aluminum industry can be offset by the potential emission savings from the transport sector's increased use of aluminum.
Read the research report

Direct Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduced Significantly Despite Growth in Primary Aluminium Production, New Life Cycle Inventory Report Confirms

London, UK (October 22, 2007) — The International Aluminium Institute reported today industry survey results showing a 14 percent reduction in total direct greenhouse gas emissions from the production processes of primary aluminium, including bauxite mining, alumina refining, anode production, aluminium smelting and casting, between 2000 and 2005, despite a 20 percent growth in primary aluminium production covered in the survey.
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