Energy & Climate Change

Climate change is a complex issue facing today’s world, and the chemical industry is doing its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by pursuing two complementary actions: First, reducing emissions in its own manufacturing facilities; and, second, innovating new products that reduce emissions when used by other industries and consumers.

In our own facilities, chemical companies are improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas intensity. The European chemical industry reports that overall greenhouse gas emissions have been curbed by 25% between 1990 and 2005, while production increased more than 50%. Between 1990 and 2007, the Japanese chemical industry improved energy efficiency by 16%, and reduced absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 17%. In the United States, the industry's absolute greenhouse gas emissions fell 16% between 1990 and 2008. At the same time, chemical industry production rose 39%. As a result, greenhouse gas intensity fell (improved) 39.4%. Since 1974, U.S. industry has improved energy efficiency (reduced energy consumption per unit of output) by 53%. The chemical industry across all major regions has reduced both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

 Innovation in the chemical industry leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions throughout society. The products of the chemical industry are already enabling greenhouse gas emissions savings by industries and consumers; savings that are more than twice the emissions from manufacturing. The ICCA study “Innovations for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions” (July 2009) shows these savings across a range of more than 100 chemical products.

►See the full study and related documents

 Importantly for the future, the ICCA study also shows that continued innovation in the chemical industry has the potential to improve greenhouse gas savings from today’s factor of 2x to a factor of 4x or greater by 2030. Innovation – an intrinsic characteristic of the industry – will deliver these savings, and thus the chemical industry will be a leader in the world’s transition to lower greenhouse gas intensity. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally, advancement will also be needed in government policy and programs. Many countries are developing plans to reduce their emissions and are working to build consensus for the next phase of action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The chemical industry has developed policy principles for COP-15.

► See the ICCA flyer