| Dick Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alcan Inc., called on Canada to act on climate change in his luncheon remarks to members and distinguished guests of the Canadian Club of Montreal.
“I believe climate change is the critical issue facing the sustainable future of Canada and the future prosperity of its people; the real question is not ‘can it be solved’, but 'when and who will pay for the solution?’” said Mr. Evans in his address. “There needs to be a fundamental change in behaviour, embracing the economic, social, and environmental benefits of addressing climate change today with real actions,” he added.
“In my opinion, GHG abatement is the ultimate ‘free rider’ issue. It pits strong narrow short-term economic interests favouring inaction against broader but longer-term collective interests for creating a cleaner, more prosperous future,” said Mr. Evans.
In his address, Mr. Evans called on leaders in the public and private sectors to show the way:
- By creating incentives in our daily lives that will encourage long-term behaviour changes, toward recycling materials, saving energy through more efficient insulation and lighting, and the broader use of more efficient transportation systems;
- By developing and implementing effective market-based trading mechanisms, economic instruments and full-cost pricing as part of an integrated regime of regulation, standards, fiscal incentives and policy on climate change;
- By investing in conservation and renewable sources of energy, such as hydro, solar, and wind to reduce the dependency on conventional sources of fuel; and
- By accelerating technology development for the implementation of carbon capture and storage processes.
“If consumers, are encouraged today – through sound economic incentives – to make choices that will reduce their GHG footprint, we will be helping shape a sustainable future for this country,” said Mr. Evans.
“Alcan is already actively developing and implementing climate change solutions, through its leading technologies, processes and innovative products, that promote its own sustainable growth and that of the communities and environments in which it operates around the world,” Mr. Evans continued.
Between 1990 and 2005, Alcan’s total GHG emission intensity was reduced by 25 percent. This achievement was realized largely through the development and investment in more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies, such as the Company’s proprietary Aluminium Pechiney (AP) smelting technology. In December 2006, Alcan announced that it plans to build a US$550 million pilot facility in Canada to develop the most advanced AP technology platform, AP50, based entirely on clean, renewable hydroelectricity.
“Today, Alcan is announcing a commitment for a further 10 percent reduction in direct C02 equivalent emissions intensity from 2006 to 2010,” said Mr. Evans.
Alcan was recently included as one of only five Canadian companies on the annual Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the list has featured Alcan for three consecutive years.
In November 2005, Alcan led a call to action on climate change and energy, known as the Executive Forum on Climate Change, with other leading Canadian companies ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) in Montreal. The Forum urged Canadian governments to develop a sustainable climate change strategy to 2050, with clear markers along the way, to assure strong economic growth, allow the discovery of long-term value for carbon emission reductions and address the need for adaptation in the face of climate change.
Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging today’s Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 65,000 employees in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of US$20.3 billion in 2005. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index consecutively since 2003. For more information, please visit: www.alcan.com.
For more information, including a copy of Mr. Evans’ complete remarks, please visit the “speeches” portion of Alcan’s Media section at www.alcan.com.
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Anik Michaud (Alcan)
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Corey Copeland (Alcan)
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