Vision 2050 Report Launched Today at World CEO Forum in New Delhi
NEW YORK–Alcoa (NYSE:AA) and a diverse group representing 29 leading global
companies across 14 industries today called on businesses around the
world to develop strategies that would enable a global population of
some 9 billion people to live well within the resources of the planet by
2050.
Alcoa and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
are partnering to provide companies with a pathway to reach a
sustainable global society by 2050. The Council today launched the joint
report, Vision 2050: The New Agenda for Business, at the World
CEO Forum in New Delhi. The report outlines vast new business
opportunities – valued as much as US$6.2 trillion – for companies that
have the foresight to lead with a sustainable development agenda.
Alcoa Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Mohammad
A. Zaidi co-chaired the extensive 18-month project.
“Vision 2050 lays out the challenges, pathway and options that
business can use to create an opportunity-rich strategy, both regionally
and globally, that will lead to a sustainable world,” said Dr. Zaidi.
“The world already has the knowledge, science, technologies, skills and
financial resources needed to achieve Vision 2050. However,
concerted global action in the next decade will be required to bring
these capabilities and resources together, putting the world on the path
to sustainability.”
The 80-page publication outlines a future in which the projected world
population in 2050 – 9 billion people – could live well, enjoying good
health, food, shelter, energy, mobility and education. In the Vision
2050 scenario, global society attains this standard of living at a
sustainable rate, without additional harm to biodiversity, climate and
the ecosystem.
Sustainability is a core value to Alcoa, which is a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index. Some of the most recent company
accomplishments include:
-
Through 2009, the company achieved a 43% reduction in greenhouse
gasses from the 1990 base year – a 72% improvement over our target for
2010. -
Approximately 90% of Alcoa’s worldwide operations have community
programs, putting the company within reach of its target of 100% by
2010. -
Alcoa has been ranked by the Covalence Ethics Index 11 out of 581
companies in ethical reputation among all companies worldwide and
first in the Resources category. -
73 percent of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today helping
to make it one of the most sustainable materials in the world. The
light-weight material also lowers emissions in transport products.
“Partnering with WBCSD on the Vision 2050 project was natural for Alcoa,
because sustainability is inherent to us as a company,” Dr. Zaidi said.
“Aluminum in and of itself is one of the most sustainable materials in
the world because it is infinitely recyclable. Seventy-three percent of
all of the aluminum that has ever been made since 1888 is still in use
today through recycling.”
Vision 2050 spells out the “must haves” – the things that must
happen over the coming decade to make a sustainable planetary society
possible. These include:
-
Meeting the development needs of billions of people, enabling
education and economic empowerment, particularly of women, and
developing radically more eco-efficient solutions, lifestyles and
behavior -
Incorporating the costs of externalities, starting with carbon,
ecosystem services and water, into the structure of the marketplace -
Doubling agricultural output without increasing the amount of land or
water used - Halting deforestation and increasing yields from planted forests
-
Halving carbon emissions worldwide (based on 2005 levels) by 2050,
with greenhouse gas emissions peaking around 2020 through a shift to
low-carbon energy systems and highly improved demand-side energy
efficiency - Providing universal access to low-carbon mobility
-
Delivering a four- to ten-fold improvement in the use of resources and
materials.
As part of this transformation, Vision 2050 calls for business to
work with government and society worldwide to transform markets and
competition.
Vision 2050, with its best-case scenario for sustainability and
pathways for reaching it, is intended not to be a definitive blueprint,
but a tool for thought leadership, a platform for beginning the dialogue
that must take place to navigate the challenging years to come.
“It is hoped that the Vision 2050 work will be used for many years to
come,” said Per Sandberg, project director for Vision 2050. “It is
designed to be a platform for companies when deliberating strategies and
for dialogue with governments and society about how to realize the
sustainable future.”
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world leader in the production and management of primary
aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina combined, through its active
and growing participation in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa
serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction,
commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design,
engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa’s businesses to
customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including
flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also
markets Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment
castings, and building systems. The Company has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for eight consecutive years. Alcoa employs
approximately 59,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More
information can be found at www.alcoa.com
About WBCSD
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a
CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies dealing exclusively
with business and sustainable development. The Council provides a
platform for companies to explore sustainable development, share
knowledge, experiences and best practices, and to advocate business
positions on these issues in a variety of forums, working with
governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations. Members
are drawn from more than 36 countries and 22 major industrial sectors.
The Council also benefits from a global network of some 60 national and
regional business councils and regional partners. www.wbcsd.org