Dick Evans

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Dick Evans is a veteran of the aluminium industry. He was CEO of Alcan from 2006 until 2007 when he joined Rio Tinto as executive director and became chief executive of Rio Tinto Alcan when they merged. He was appointed Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute in 2008, having been a leading director since 2001. He was replaced at Rio Tinto Alcan by Jacynthe Cote in 2009[1].

Prior to his Rio Tinto and Alcan appointments he spent 27 years with Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation[2].

Other Appointments

Mr. Evans is also a director of Abitibi-Bowater Incorporated and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Conference Board of Canada. He is also the past chairman of the U.S. Aluminum Association's Board of Directors. He has served as co-chairman of the Environmental and Climate Change Committee of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and as member of the Board of the United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a Washington-based coalition concerned with climate change[3].

Greenwash

As his other appointments show, Dick Evans has been involved in`a number of climate change bodies at high levels of the Canadian and US governments. Through bodies such as the International Aluminium Institute of which he is a long term member, the aluminium industry has made a concerted effort to portray itself as a green and clean metal which is an essential part of the solutions to global poverty, environmental degradation and climate change, instead of part of the problem.

In contrast, evidence shows the aluminium industry as a major polluter, contributing 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions and using 1300 tons of water and 13.1 tons of CO2 for every one ton of aluminium produced[4]. It is also the most energy intensive metal to produce, relying heavily on large hydro electric projects which have massive social and environmental consequences[5].

On joining the International Aluminium Institute Dick Evans commented:

"I am honoured to once again be serving the IAI as Chairman and will continue its substantial work towards improving the global sustainability of the aluminium indu[6]stry, as well as the promotion of aluminium's benefits to society and the environment."


Resources

Notes

  1. Rio Tinto Alcan, 14 May 2008 Dick Evans appointed Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute Accessed 21/07/10
  2. Rio Tinto Alcan, 14 May 2008 Dick Evans appointed Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute Accessed 21/07/10
  3. Rio Tinto Alcan, 14 May 2008 Dick Evans appointed Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute Accessed 21/07/10
  4. Jaap Krater and Miriam Rose, 'Development of Iceland’s geothermal energy potential for aluminium production– a critical analysis',In: Abrahamsky, K. (ed) (2009). Sparking a World-wide Energy Revolution: Social Struggles in the Transition to a Post-Petrol World. AK Press, Edinburgh.
  5. Patrick McCully, 2001 'Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams' Zed Books.
  6. Rio Tinto Alcan, 14 May 2008 Dick Evans appointed Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute Accessed 21/07/10