Alcoa Chairman Alain Belda was honored by the Asia Society last week for his environmental leadership, including Alcoas progress to reduce GHG emissions and address global warming. The Asia Society is an American institution dedicated to educating Americans about Asia and fostering understanding between Americans and the people of Asian countries.
In accepting the award, Belda said, "At Alcoa, we see global warming as the sustainability issue of our generation. To me, it is critical that it is part of our company culture and a core part of our business and corporate decision making."
Alcoa, a founding member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, has reduced GHG emissions by 33% from a base year of 1990, while increasing production of aluminum. The company invests in new technologies, such as the groundbreaking carbon capture technology, which delivers significant greenhouse benefits by locking up CO2 that is otherwise released into the atmosphere.
Last year, Alcoa opened its first smelter in 20 years in Iceland powered by sustainable hydropower.
Alcoas products help lightweight vehicles in the transportation industry, saving fuel and maintenance costs, and reducing emissions, and provide a sustainable solution for the building and construction industry, packaging and industrial products industries.
Belda was recognized as an environmental leader along with Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, director-general, The Energy and Resources Institute and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and Dr. Shi Zhengrong, Chairman and CEO of Suntech Power Holdings Co. The three were honored for their path-breaking efforts to address climate change.
