Pew & Alcoa Partner to Make an Impact
Press Release
October 6, 2008
Alcoa Contact: Libby Archell, +1 347 901 1902
Pew Center Contact: Katie Mandes, +1 703 516 4146
Growing concern around the environmental impacts of climate change and rising energy costs has prompted many to question what they can do to take action in their daily lives.
In what is believed to be a first for corporate America, aluminium company Alcoa and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change have launched a unique new program to help find the answers.
Make an Impact provides the tools for Alcoa's employees and the local community to manage their individual carbon footprint, reduce their energy costs, and become part of the solution to global climate change.
The Make an Impact program includes:
Pew Center President Eileen Claussen applauded the project, "We often think that solutions to climate change and energy costs can come only from business and government. But everyone needs to play their part - and through our partnership with the Alcoa Foundation - we are making that possible.
"We expect this program to serve as the benchmark on personal carbon accounting across business and the community and we look forward to sharing it with our business partners in the near future.”
Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld said that this was a part of a global leadership position on addressing climate change and in addition to Alcoa reducing emissions inside its operations 33% from a 1990 base, Alcoa Foundation had invested over $8 million in community-driven climate change projects in the last year.
"Climate change is the most critical sustainability issue of our time and to make a real difference we all need to take action - on all fronts and at all levels, individually and together, said Mr Kleinfeld.
"Our 97,000 employees are finding new ways to meet this challenge every day and our product is also playing key role – not only can aluminum be recycled endlessly - taking only 5% of the energy needed to make new metal - but it is also reducing fuel use in transport by making lighter vehicles.”
"By providing our employees and neighbours the tools to understand and manage their environmental impact, we support them in being part of the solution to global climate change. Because as individuals we can all make a difference, but by working together, we can really make an impact.”
The Make an Impact program builds on the success of the program developed in Australia in 2006 through an Alcoa Foundation partnership with Greening Australia.
Make an Impact will kick off in the US on September 18th and initially be introduced at nine Alcoa locations from Washington to Pittsburgh, with plans to take the program elsewhere to other US locations and beyond.
To find out more visit www.alcoa.com/makeanimpact
PEW CENTER ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change was established in 1998 as a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization dedicated to providing credible information, straight answers, and innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change.
The Center engages decision-makers at the federal, state, regional, and international levels to achieve its goals for mandatory federal climate change policy and a post-2012 international climate agreement.
The Center's Business Environmental Leadership Council (BELC), a group of 42 mainly Fortune 500 companies with over $2 trillion in combined revenue and employing more than 4 million people, is the largest U.S.-based association of corporations committed to advancing mandatory policy and business solutions to address climate change.
The Pew Center is also a founding member of the influential U.S. Climate Action Partnership.
ABOUT ALCOA FOUNDATION
Alcoa Foundation is a separately constituted nonprofit U.S. corporate foundation with assets of approximately $500 million. Its mission is to actively invest in the quality of life in Alcoa communities worldwide. Throughout its history, the Foundation has been a source of positive community change and enhancement, with nearly $466 million invested since 1952.
The Foundation's grants address global and local needs in over 36 countries by partnering with Alcoa communities around the world to make a difference. Global and local grantmaking is responsive to the needs and aspirations of Alcoa communities and marshals the combined expertise, energies, and values of Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation to provide a world-class standard of excellence in corporate citizenship.
In 2007, Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation invested a combined total of $49.0 million in community programs in 36 countries, focusing on four areas of excellence: conservation and sustainability, global education and workplace skills, business and community partnerships, and safe and healthy children and families. Alcoa Foundation manages the Alcoa employee volunteer programs ACTION and Bravo! For more information, visit www.alcoa.com/foundation.
October 6, 2008
Alcoa Contact: Libby Archell, +1 347 901 1902
Pew Center Contact: Katie Mandes, +1 703 516 4146
MAKING AN IMPACT … TOGETHER
The Pew Center and the Alcoa Foundation Partner for Unique Employee Program
The Pew Center and the Alcoa Foundation Partner for Unique Employee Program
Growing concern around the environmental impacts of climate change and rising energy costs has prompted many to question what they can do to take action in their daily lives.
In what is believed to be a first for corporate America, aluminium company Alcoa and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change have launched a unique new program to help find the answers.
Make an Impact provides the tools for Alcoa's employees and the local community to manage their individual carbon footprint, reduce their energy costs, and become part of the solution to global climate change.
The Make an Impact program includes:
- Interactive website with tools and resources on reducing energy bills and living more sustainably;
- Custom-built carbon calculator with individual 'footprint' analysis and personalized action planning;
- Comprehensive outreach program of localized interactive workshops.
Pew Center President Eileen Claussen applauded the project, "We often think that solutions to climate change and energy costs can come only from business and government. But everyone needs to play their part - and through our partnership with the Alcoa Foundation - we are making that possible.
"We expect this program to serve as the benchmark on personal carbon accounting across business and the community and we look forward to sharing it with our business partners in the near future.”
Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld said that this was a part of a global leadership position on addressing climate change and in addition to Alcoa reducing emissions inside its operations 33% from a 1990 base, Alcoa Foundation had invested over $8 million in community-driven climate change projects in the last year.
"Climate change is the most critical sustainability issue of our time and to make a real difference we all need to take action - on all fronts and at all levels, individually and together, said Mr Kleinfeld.
"Our 97,000 employees are finding new ways to meet this challenge every day and our product is also playing key role – not only can aluminum be recycled endlessly - taking only 5% of the energy needed to make new metal - but it is also reducing fuel use in transport by making lighter vehicles.”
"By providing our employees and neighbours the tools to understand and manage their environmental impact, we support them in being part of the solution to global climate change. Because as individuals we can all make a difference, but by working together, we can really make an impact.”
The Make an Impact program builds on the success of the program developed in Australia in 2006 through an Alcoa Foundation partnership with Greening Australia.
Make an Impact will kick off in the US on September 18th and initially be introduced at nine Alcoa locations from Washington to Pittsburgh, with plans to take the program elsewhere to other US locations and beyond.
To find out more visit www.alcoa.com/makeanimpact
PEW CENTER ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change was established in 1998 as a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization dedicated to providing credible information, straight answers, and innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change.
The Center engages decision-makers at the federal, state, regional, and international levels to achieve its goals for mandatory federal climate change policy and a post-2012 international climate agreement.
The Center's Business Environmental Leadership Council (BELC), a group of 42 mainly Fortune 500 companies with over $2 trillion in combined revenue and employing more than 4 million people, is the largest U.S.-based association of corporations committed to advancing mandatory policy and business solutions to address climate change.
The Pew Center is also a founding member of the influential U.S. Climate Action Partnership.
ABOUT ALCOA FOUNDATION
Alcoa Foundation is a separately constituted nonprofit U.S. corporate foundation with assets of approximately $500 million. Its mission is to actively invest in the quality of life in Alcoa communities worldwide. Throughout its history, the Foundation has been a source of positive community change and enhancement, with nearly $466 million invested since 1952.
The Foundation's grants address global and local needs in over 36 countries by partnering with Alcoa communities around the world to make a difference. Global and local grantmaking is responsive to the needs and aspirations of Alcoa communities and marshals the combined expertise, energies, and values of Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation to provide a world-class standard of excellence in corporate citizenship.
In 2007, Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation invested a combined total of $49.0 million in community programs in 36 countries, focusing on four areas of excellence: conservation and sustainability, global education and workplace skills, business and community partnerships, and safe and healthy children and families. Alcoa Foundation manages the Alcoa employee volunteer programs ACTION and Bravo! For more information, visit www.alcoa.com/foundation.