A unique partnership between the international primary aluminium industry. World Resources Institute (WRI), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Climate Protection Division has resulted in the development of a new tool for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from primary aluminium production. Utilizing the WRIAVBCSD GHG Protocol Corporate Standard as the accounting framework, the aluminium industry sector specific tool will serve as the unified accounting and reporting standard for the industry. Developed by working groups of the major aluminum companies, the tool builds on an earlier PFC measurement protocol developed through a coordinated program between the USEPA, US aluminum producers and international producers. As part of a consensus building effort the tool was subjected to a worldwide multi-stakeholder review, organized by WRI and WBCSD. Primary aluminium production results in direct emissions of carbon dioxide and two perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane. In addition, the industry is energy intensive consuming about 15.6 MW hours of electricity for each metric ton of aluminum produced. Annual surveys carried out by the International Aluminium Institute, has shown substantial industry progress over the past decade, reducing PFC emissions by approximately 46%, despite a 36% increase in production. The new tool will further improve the reliability and consistency of GHG measurement and reporting, enabling the industry and others to track progress over time. It will also serve as a valuable internal management tool for aluminium companies. Other industry sectors adopting the WRIAVBCSD GHG Protocol standards for the purposes of developing sector specific tools include cement, pulp and paper, and oil and gas.
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