According to the latest data from the International Aluminum Institute (IAI), 2022 marked an important milestone in the aluminum industry's journey towards emission reduction. Despite a global increase in aluminum production, it was the first year that witnessed a decrease in the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the global aluminum industry, with emissions intensity per unit of primary aluminum decreasing more than the output growth.

Miles Prosser, Secretary-General of the International Aluminum Institute, stated, "Our challenge lies in ensuring that we not only increase production but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Given the crucial role of aluminum in the overall decarbonization of the economy, global aluminum demand is expected to significantly increase in the coming decades, often resulting in higher emissions. However, the aluminum industry is actively reducing the average carbon intensity of aluminum production per metric ton."

The latest data for the year 2022, which has just been compiled, reveals that global aluminum production increased by 3.9%, rising from 104.1 million metric tons to 108.2 million metric tons. However, the overall GHG emissions from the aluminum industry experienced a decrease, dropping from 1.13 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to 1.111 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Furthermore, the emissions intensity of primary aluminum production (the average emissions per metric ton of primary aluminum) has consistently declined since 2019. By 2022, the emissions intensity decreased by 4.4%, going from 15.8 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per metric ton of primary aluminum to 15.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Miles Prosser commented, "The data for 2022 demonstrates the progress made by the aluminum industry in reducing production emissions intensity. Although there is still much work to be done, 2022 marks the first year where emission reductions, through reducing emissions intensity, offset the emissions associated with production growth. This is a significant achievement."