12.07.2007 - 08:49am ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK - December 7, 2007 - Alcoa Chairman and CEO Alain Belda discussed Alcoa’s approach to sustainability and climate change as a key guest at the Annual Dinner of the Heinz Center Board of Trustees held yesterday in Washington, D.C. The program featured a conversation between Mr. Belda and Steve Curwood, executive producer, host and creator of Living on Earth, a weekly environmental news program on National Public Radio.

For Alcoa, key to sustainable performance is engagement at all levels of the organization. Alcoa, as a member of the U.S. Climate Policy Forum organized by Resources for the Future, an energy and environmental think tank, has participated in assessments of U.S. climate policy options from which effective federal policy might be crafted, and as a founding member of USCAP, Alcoa, along with other member companies, continues to call for legislation to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Alcoa has also undertaken similar well-structured partnerships in Brazil and Australia, where it a major employer.

In the community, Alcoa Foundation has funded a portfolio of climate change projects totaling more than $8 million and entered into partnership with various groups to inform public policy, build capacity, and increase education, understanding and awareness. For example, a three-year, $1.125 million grant to the World Resources Institute is funding research to inform and provide input to the U.S. and international policy community as they address climate change and sustainable development.

The Foundation is also working with communities to develop practical approaches to climate change, and recently awarded a $200,000 grant to the California Council of Land Trusts to implement a program that identifies and addresses the impact of climate change on land and water conserved by California land trusts.

Alcoa believes individual action on climate change is also essential. In this area, Alcoa Foundation has awarded a grant to the Pew Center for Global Climate Change for a community-focused project to raise awareness and encourage action about climate change in Alcoa communities worldwide. This program builds off the successful Alcoa Australia "Make an Impact" project, which is centered upon a dedicated web-based carbon calculator to track individual, household and community emissions.

About Alcoa

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active 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(R) wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, structures and building systems. The company has 116,000 employees in 44 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com

About the Heinz Center

Founded in December 1995 in honor of Senator H. John Heinz III, The Heinz Center is a nonprofit institution dedicated to improving the scientific and economic foundation for environmental policy through multisectoral collaboration among industry, government, academia, and environmental organizations.