MCA Climate Action Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
13 51 6 Al Sb C Aluminium Solar cells Antimony Carbon 27 29 79 Co Cu Au Cobalt Copper Gold Batteries 26 3 25 Fe Li Mn Hydrogen Iron Lithium Manganese 12 28 41 Mg Ni Nb Magnesium CCUS Nickel Niobium 50 92 30 Sn U Zn Tin Uranium Zinc EV & hybrids Nuclear Mineral Wind Rare earth energy sands energy elements Copyright © 2020 Minerals Council of Australia CLIMATE ACTION PLAN PREAMBLE minerals.org.au Supporting ongoing climate action by Australia’s minerals industry The MCA and all of its Sustained climate action across all nations is 4. Accelerated development of the This 2020-2023 plan furthers the minerals well as taking a lead on commodity stewardship required to reduce the risks of human-induced minerals required for a low emissions sector’s public commitment to addressing looking at global procurement practices, circular members are taking serious climate change and to support world-wide future including aluminium, copper, nickel, climate change on an ongoing basis consistent economy, and traceability of commodities action on climate change decarbonisation as we transform to a lower zinc, iron, uranium, base metals, lithium, with the MCA’s climate statement. It outlines a through their lifecycle. emissions future. minerals sands, and rare earths series of actions focused on three key themes: and are committed to the Practical and cost-effective options are already Our sector improves the lives of millions of 5. Global and domestic partnerships 1. Support developing technology pathways to being developed and put into action across the Paris Agreement and its goal people in Australia and overseas through the with governments, regulators, customers, achieve significant reductions in Australia’s minerals value chain. of net zero emissions. responsible mining of minerals that are essential technology developers, universities, greenhouse emissions The sector will play its part so that Australia’s for everyday life. NGOs and other relevant groups to drive 2. Increased transparency on climate change minerals can be sustainably mined, refined This is a global undertaking of major new technologies that cost-effectively related reporting and informed advocacy and consumed to support more sustainable technological, economic and social challenge reduce emissions economic growth and social progress in in which Australia and the minerals sector must 3. Knowledge sharing of the sector’s responses alignment with the United Nations Sustainable 6. Policies that foster continued economic to addressing climate change. play their part. growth and investor confidence in Australia. Development Goals and the global climate goals This plan will be reviewed annually to ensure it of the Paris Agreement. To achieve an ambition of net zero emissions The scale of the technology-led transformation in Australia, and reflecting the importance of remains consistent with Australia’s climate policy This Climate Action Plan is part of the ongoing required cannot occur without the minerals ambitions in support of the Paris Agreement. The technology- rapid action, requires a stable national policy and raw materials provided by the Australian commitment of Australian minerals companies framework that includes: mining sector. With this plan, the sector acknowledges led transformation to environmentally sustainable and responsible 1. Substantially increased research, the critical importance of technology in mining and processing. Our sector is already making major investments reducing emissions. It lays the groundwork required cannot development and investment in technologies to significantly reduce emissions such as and processes to reduce mine site emissions for the Australian minerals sector to share its occur without the renewable energy investments at mine sites knowledge and support emission reductions 2. Widespread deployment of low and and collaborations with partners on low within the sector. minerals and raw zero emission technologies including emissions technologies and processes. consideration of all technologies The minerals industry has already taken a strong materials provided Australia’s ability to successfully adapt to proactive approach on research, development Tania Constable 3. Credible, verified low cost abatement options, climate change will rely on a strong economy and deployment of technology applications by the Australian Chief Executive Officer including domestic and international offsets including a strong and internationally competitive across our businesses. Major opportunities exist Minerals Council of Australia Australian mining industry. Our sector will in pursuing decarbonisation including through minerals sector. continue to deliver the raw materials and operational efficiencies, abatement, developing contribute to the new technologies which will and deploying low emissions technologies underpin necessary resilient infrastructure and including renewables, hydrogen, proven, safe and act on new opportunities that will drive lower reliable Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage emissions for the minerals industry. (CCUS) and advanced nuclear solutions, as well as digitisation, automation, and electrification. The sector will support the development of cleaner energy options through the development of critical minerals to enable their application as MAKING THE SWITCH Australian miners embrace renewable energy Remote mine sites are increasingly powered by solar, wind and battery energy. In February 2020, Rio Tinto announced a 34MW solar farm will power its new Koodaideri iron ore mine in the Pilbara. The 100,000-panel photovoltaic plant, along The MCA is proud to release its Climate Action Plan while with a lithium-ion battery at Tom Price, will help Rio Tinto reduce its annual carbon recognising the shadow cast by COVID-19. This has not and will emissions by about 90,000 tonnes – the equivalent of taking around 28,000 cars not deter Australia’s minerals sector from further implementation off the road. Expected to be operational in 2021, the solar farm will join more than a of this Plan. The minerals sector stands ready to help lead our dozen green energy projects at mining operations across the country. nation’s economic recovery post-COVID-19. CLIMATE THEMES AND ACTIONS Developing technology pathways to achieve significant Increased transparency on climate change 1 reductions in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions 2 reporting and informed advocacy Encouraging substantial investment across a broad range of low-emissions technologies. Providing timely, accurate and reliable information to enhance members’ capacity to act. ACTION 1 ACTION 2 ACTION 3 ACTION 4 ACTION 5 ACTION 6 ACTION 7 Enhance national and Define a greater role for the Support the development of Understand the Build the capacity of Share member company Engage in the ongoing global discussions on low minerals sector in the global policies and technologies to opportunities and risks Australia’s minerals sector approaches to scenario development of current emissions technologies and national transformation to achieve least-cost abatement of net zero emissions for the relating to climate-related analysis and how it is being policies including the and report on the potential lower emissions. in order to help meet the net Australian minerals sector financial disclosures strategically used within the Safeguard Mechanism. of innovative mitigation and zero emissions goal of the having regard to the Australian (including from the Taskforce sector to address climate- adaptation technologies. Paris Agreement and maintain Government’s commitments on Climate-related Financial related opportunities and risks. the competitiveness of under the Paris Agreement Disclosure). energy-intensive and trade- and the aspirations set by the exposed sectors. states and territories. CLIMATE ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 1.1 ACTIVITY 1.4 ACTIVITY 1.8 ACTIVITY 3.1 ACTIVITY 3.4 Pursue climate partnerships Explore technology potential Work with finance community Support public data repository Report on technology uptake Identify domestic and international Consider aspirational uptake rates and Identify innovative business models that can Work with government officials to improve Release a biennial statement on progress partnerships relevant to the minerals timeframes across a broad portfolio of low- support the uptake of nascent low-emissions mineral sector datasets, including remote towards achieving aspirational technology sector to advance the climate goals of emitting and high-abating technologies. technologies. power options, centralised power system uptake rates suggested in Action 1.4. the Paris Agreement. costs and low emissions technologies. ACTIVITY 1.5 ACTIVITY 2.1 ACTIVITY 3.5 ACTIVITY 1.2 National technology roadmap Support renewable energy ACTIVITY 3.2 Publicly support ARENA Climate Change Advisory Panel Inform and help implement the Government’s Encourage the uptake of renewable energy Advocate long-term policy Support ARENA to continue accelerating Establish and convene an independent Technology Investment Roadmap. sources at the mine site. Longer-term policy advocacy consistent with the uptake of clean energy. Supporting the panel of experts to advise the MCA on the MCA’s Climate Statement to enable the sustainable pathways to decarbonisation. ACTIVITY 1.6 ACTIVITY 2.2 sector to decarbonise. ACTIVITY 3.6 shift towards a Develop minerals sector roadmap Support zero emissions Access international abatement ACTIVITY 1.3 Partner with relevant organisations to develop Support innovative solutions