Decarbonizing Aluminum: Rolling Out a More Sustainable Sector

The article discusses the urgent need for decarbonizing the aluminum industry to mitigate climate change. Industry-driven and government-led efforts to reduce emissions and achieve sustainability in aluminum production are examined. The aluminum sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with carbon-intensive processes largely unchanged since the 1800s. The sector’s substantial role in various industries, including electric vehicles and construction, underscores the importance of its decarbonization. 

Some of the challenges of this sector include carbon-intensive electricity sources, like coal, for aluminum production, leading to over 2% of global emissions. Despite increased aluminum demand, its production needs a reduction of 77% in emissions by 2050. Government policies, such as renewable energy investment and cross-border electricity trade, will serve as important catalysts for industry-wide decarbonization, in addition to incentives for recycling, considering aluminum's recyclability and energy-saving benefits.