Rio Tinto's activities result in emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and perfluorinated carbons (PFC). Our position on climate change states that 'Rio Tinto believes that it is prudent to act now to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity that may cause detrimental changes to the earth's climate system'. Therefore, we need an accurate understanding of our greenhouse gas emissions to set targets and identify areas for improvement, participate in climate change programmes and formulate response strategies to international greenhouse policy developments.

Rio Tinto's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2003 were 24.5 million tonnes of CO₂-e.

• 52 per cent (12.7 million tonnes of CO₂-e) was emissions produced on site at our operations over which we have direct management control. These emissions were released when we consumed fuels, anodes, reductants and explosives or when we generated electricity, or released coal seam gases and perfluorocarbons from operational processes. Emissions were also generated from land management (including livestock).
• The remainder was emissions associated with electricity and steam we purchased, minus emissions from the electricity we exported to non Rio Tinto entities.
• Rio Tinto's greenhouse gas emissions inventory includes all six greenhouse gases in the Kyoto protocol.

However, there were also other indirect emissions released in 2003, over which we did not have direct management control. These included emissions from the transport of our products, the combustion of our coal for power and in the conversion of our iron ore into steel, by third parties.

The way in which we report greenhouse gas emissions is broadly consistent with the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol and we continue to develop and improve our understanding of issues associated with data reliability: in 2003 an external consultant was engaged to verify our greenhouse gas accounting methodology.