The transformation of industries and the carbon issue have reached a global consensus: in 2021 over 130 countries and 110 regions have set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality, equivalent to around 88% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The key to this lies primarily in low-carbon energy systems and a sophisticated circular economy. According to the International Energy Agency, the demand for mineral resources for clean energy technologies will increase four- to six-fold if the goal of limiting the global temperature rise to below 2 °C is to be achieved. In this context, the extraction of strategic metals such as aluminium, copper and nickel will also be crucial for the transition to clean energy. But above all, governments and industry organisers should take active measures to stimulate aluminium companies to develop technologies to improve the efficiency of aluminium use and reduce carbon emissions.
Against this background, carbon emissions within the aluminium cycle become an integral part of the analysis of the relationship between aluminium and the economy.