Statement: Federal government pledges $2 billion for “green” aluminium, but industry must still deal with environmental harm

The Federal Government has announced a pledge to help decarbonise aluminium production in Australia. Under the new “green aluminium” plan, $2 billion of production credits will support aluminium smelters to shift from using coal to renewable energy for their power.

The Wilderness Society welcomes plans to cut the sector’s emissions, but emphasises that more action is needed to reduce the aluminium industry’s overall environmental impacts.

“Cutting emissions from aluminium smelters is necessary. But the aluminium industry can’t call itself green while it’s continuing to ravage one of Australia’s most spectacular places: the Northern Jarrah Forest” says Adele Chasson, Manager of Corporate Advocacy and Engagement at the Wilderness Society.

“The Northern Jarrah Forest is a global biodiversity hotspot on Boorloo/Perth’s doorstep. These iconic forests are a vital carbon store and a last refuge for many threatened species like Black Cockatoos and Quokkas. These ancient forests and rivers that flow through them have been under Noongar custodianship for tens of thousands of years and hold unique cultural heritage.

“Bauxite miners have ripped apart vast swathes of this unique ecosystem for aluminium. Now, they have horrific plans to destroy 100,000 additional hectares of the forest—over 50 times the size of Perth. This will make climate change worse, push unique animals to extinction and put Perth’s water supply at risk.

“In a dual climate and biodiversity crisis, we need the aluminium industry to both reduce its emissions and stop destroying nature. Only an aluminium industry that’s genuinely green will help Australia be competitive, and it has a long way to go.”