Alcoa announced today that 15 of its employees will assist in scientific field research expeditions around the world this year through a partnership with Earthwatch Institute.
Earthwatch is the global volunteer organization that works toward a sustainable environment by engaging people in research, conservation and education programs. The Alcoa fellows will be participating in Earthwatch expeditions that focus primarily on climate change, global water supply and sustainability -- issues of great importance to the company.
The selected employees work at Alcoa locations around the world, from Iceland to Australia. Between May and August, they will travel to research sites in Ecuador, the Czech Republic, Kenya and elsewhere. This is the sixth year Alcoa has sponsored employees in the field.
"Alcoa continues to take a leadership role in addressing globally important environmental issues," said Rob Bear, Alcoa's director of Environmental Affairs. "Our partnership with Earthwatch gives our employees the opportunity to see firsthand the science of understanding environmental conditions and the connection to Alcoas strategic programs. These employees then promote Alcoa's environmental leadership to their colleagues and communities upon their return."
Alcoa has set a number of environmental goals including reducing landfilled waste by more than 50% between 2000 and 2007 and worldwide direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from managed facilities by 33% from 1990 to 2007.
A founding member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) -- the goal of which is to encourage government/policy change that would require significant reduction in GHGs -- Alcoa is also a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and was named one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World for the fourth year in a row at this years World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Alcoa is also a member of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change (GROCC), working with other companies to affect environmental change in industry.
