Sustainable development results
All Rio Tinto managed businesses have developed, or are in the process of developing, locally relevant sustainable development metrics. The intent is that these are derived in accordance with specific circumstances and sustainable development related priorities, through consultation with local stakeholders.
Progress against these metrics is beginning to be integrated into existing internal business reporting systems and communicated to external audiences annually through local Social and environment reports.
A Sustainable Development Leadership Panel (SDLP) of senior executives was formed in 2004 to set the direction, priorities and strategy for Rio Tinto's contribution to sustainable development. After wide internal and external consultation, in 2005 the panel developed a set of decision making criteria to help Rio Tinto businesses and departments incorporate sustainable development considerations into their formal and informal management systems. (See Hope Downs case study).
At the corporate level the criteria were included in project evaluation guidelines. The purpose is to ensure that formal and informal decisions are effective in balancing economic, social and environmental aspects, that they consider the effects of actions on future generations, and that they make a positive contribution towards society's transition to sustainable development.
In 2005 the SDLP moved the following projects forward:
- Finalised an online training and awareness programme for sustainable development which will be distributed to all businesses in 2006. The programme comprises a basic introduction for all employees and a more detailed programme for managers. The latter is a customised version of the e-learning tool CHRONOS, developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and Cambridge University, UK.
- Conducted benchmark studies against other industry sectors to improve our contribution to sustainable development. Benchmark companies included Lafarge, Cooperative Financial Services and Bechtel.
- Drafted a sustainable development integration strategy for 2006-2010 which incorporates the next steps in Rio Tinto’s sustainable development journey. The strategy is being published in February 2006 for an immediate start on implementation.
- Preston Chiaro, the chairman of the SDLP, gave a keynote speech on Rio Tinto’s SD programme at the Australian MCA’s conference in Alice Springs in November.
During 2005, direct policy support was provided to Group businesses. All businesses have now commenced work to formally understand and respond to Rio Tinto's sustainable development policy and associated expectations. The following sustainable development specific site visits and direct support were conducted in 2005: US Borax, Kennecott Minerals, Salt Lake City and Greens Creek Mine, QIT/Quebec Metal Powders, Iron Ore Company of Canada, Kennecott Utah Copper, Kennecott Energy, Kennecott Land, Energy Resources of Australia, Northparkes, Resolution Copper, and Luzenac Austria.
In 2005 Rio Tinto held a sustainable development and product stewardship workshop for the American and European business units. All managed businesses have now participated in sustainable development awareness and planning workshops.
At the beginning of the year a sustainable development collaborative forum and portal community was launched which is open to every Rio Tinto employee. By the end of the year more than 300 employees were using the forum on a regular basis and it has proven to be one of Rio Tinto’s most successful virtual forums.
We prepared a case study on Palabora's Millenium Development Goal (MDG) contribution for
WBCSD.
Case Studies
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