Aluminum situation on Climate

Author: Hua Cha

The aluminum sector supports federal policy that addresses climate transform. Safeguarding the environment as well as the public health of Americans can be a priority for the industry. In spite of this, the aluminum industry also performs to shield this very important manufacturing sector and its jobs. Through sensible legislation and regulation, the aluminum business strongly believes that climate adjust policy should:

Recognize voluntary actions to cut down greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)

Market energy efficiency and recycling

Shield a important U.S. manufacturing sector from overly burdensome regulations

Voluntarily Decreasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Because the early 1990s, the aluminum coil strip market has made voluntary efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Considering the fact that 1992, the market has lowered all round greenhouse gas emissions by 62 percent, decreasing the industry's global warming prospective as well.

Via a voluntary partnership (VAIP) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the industry has decreased emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFC), a greenhouse gas by 85 %. EPA has recognized the business as a leader and awarded the sector the EPA's Climate Alter Protection Award in 2001.

The aluminum industry continues its operate to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Climate policy that mandates across the board GHG reductions from all manufacturing sectors will disadvantage industries that have already taken aggressive action to curb their emissions.

Leaving credit for early action out of climate policy punishes manufacturing's wonderful actors, though supplying incentives to sectors which have not addressed the concern. Carrying out this leaves substantial emissions reductions inside painless attain.

Recycling Crucial in Legislation and Regulation

About one-half in the U.S. aluminum provide comes from recycled, referred to as secondary, aluminum. Almost 75 % of all aluminum ever created continues to be in use. Actually, much of the aluminum used in items these days is recycled at the finish of use:

Practically 90 percent of aluminum in cars

95 percent of aluminum in buildings

67 % of aluminum beverage containers

The energy and greenhouse gas benefits of recycling are a vital component of any thriving climate protection method. Creating secondary aluminum saves greater than 90 percent of the power and emits only 5 percent in the greenhouse gases as making key, or new, aluminum.

Climate transform policy need to incentivize and reward recycling efforts as it promotes power efficiency. Each kilowatt of electricity that may be saved equals emissions avoided. Incorporating incentives in climate policy for this avoidance is the top form of GHG policy.

Developing Sensible Legislation and Regulation

The aluminum industry strongly believes federal policy makers should certainly have a look at how overly burdensome regulations can needlessly improve energy expenses, hurt the aluminum industry's worldwide competitiveness and drive organizations out of enterprise.

Emissions and climate policies that negatively impact energy fees will put the U.S. aluminum sector at a disadvantage against foreign competitors. Considering that aluminum is usually a traded commodity, additional power expenses cannot be passed on to these who acquire the 1100 aluminum coil strip.

The aluminum market is committed to functioning with federal policy makers on standard sense policy to address climate modify when guarding a vibrant manufacturing base.