Policy is made at an international level by governments as well as organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank. Their actions influence the development of the regulatory systems in countries where Rio Tinto does business.

Rio Tinto operates in a range of regulatory regimes, so it is important that we engage in policy debates. This means contributing to government enquiries, requests for information and regulatory drafts, engaging on issues, undertaking research on the implications of our activities and products, together with ongoing programme development to meet likely future requirements.

The challenge is to contribute ideas and actions that will help construct a stable, long term global framework and ensure that the specific actions we take have social, environmental and economic value and withstand future scrutiny. Major issues in the public policy debate that Rio Tinto is currently engaged in are:

• Climate change
• Human rights
• Global Reporting Initiative
• Biodiversity
• Product stewardship

One of the vehicles Rio Tinto uses to address these issues are Industry Associations.

Rio Tinto has endorsed the World Economic Forum's (WEF) joint statement on Global Corporate Citizenship Initiative (GCCI). The Leadership Challenge for CEOs and Boards of directors was developed in a partnership between the WEF and the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders' Forum.