Lafarge is proud to announce that it is making a significant
commitment to reducing its CO2
emissions as its contribution
towards combating the threat of
climate change. This
commitment has been prepared in the context of the
WWF/Lafarge Conservation Partnership.
Lafarge's global commitment is to reduce its CO2 emissions
by 20 percent per tonne of cement produced worldwide over
the period 1990-2010. This corresponds to a 15 percent
reduction by 2010 of the absolute level of its CO2 emissions
below 1990 levels in industrialised countries (Kyoto Protocol
Annex 1). Lafarge's commitment fully discounts as climate
neutral the CO2 emissions originating from the use of
fossil-based waste
fuels because of the energy recovery and
the consequent reduced need for primary fossil fuels.
WWF applauds Lafarge's commitment to reduce its CO2
emissions. However, WWF's endorsement uses a different
method of accounting that includes the CO2 from fossil-based
waste fuels, resulting in a lower measure of 10 percent
reduction for the industrialised countries. In line with this 10
percent commitment, WWF welcomes Lafarge into its "Climate
Savers" programme.
In WWF's view, this commitment represents a substantial
contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
combating climate change as foreseen by the Kyoto Protocol.
WWF will be closely involved in the implementation and
monitoring of this reduction.
Lafarge's commitment will be achieved by intensifying a series
of actions that Lafarge has been undertaking for more than a
decade. The main levers that Lafarge will use to reduce its
emissions are: improving energy efficiency; using waste fuels
and incorporating cementitious additions, such as steel slags
and fly ash from coal-fired power stations.
WWF also welcomes Lafarge's intention to increase energy
efficiency and utilise less
carbon intensive cement production
to reduce its CO2 emissions.
While wanting to limit the creation of wastes as far as possible,
WWF is ready to consider the environmental benefits of energy
recovery from wastes in cement kilns when this is done safely.
To this end, WWF is pleased to engage with Lafarge on a joint
technical programme to review and further develop best
practices to ensure that waste fuels are always used safely.
In the future, WWF and Lafarge will look into ways of increasing
the use of renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass, etc.) in
Lafarge's global operations. Lafarge is ready to take initiatives
in this field provided that they can be done economically.
Bertrand Collomb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Lafarge, stated: "Preserving and protecting the environment is
a key objective for Lafarge. We are convinced that a global
industrial group can only continue to be successful if it operates
within the framework of sustainable development with a
genuine concern for the environment. This commitment will help
Lafarge to prepare for a future carbon-constrained world."
Dr Claude Martin, Director General of WWF International
stated: "We certainly hope that Lafarge will become a catalyst
in the cement sector. When one of the largest global CO2
emitters commits to significantly reduce its emissions, this
shows that climate action is smart action."
In the context of the Conservation Partnership that it launched in
March 2000 with WWF, Lafarge also supports WWF's Forests
Reborn project, which aims to restore degraded forest
landscapes thus helping conserve biodiversity on earth.