Principle 8

Rio Tinto has developed and implemented a number of practical programmes covering the management of air quality, ecosystems services, biodiversity, climate change, energy, land, water, waste, and closure. These programmes include input from our local communities as well as from experts in these fields.

Biodiversity

During 2008 we Implemented the Biodiversity values assessment protocol developed in 2007. Thirty seven operations (of 102 assessed) were associated with either very high (27) or high (10) biodiversity values on the basis of:

• land in proximity to biodiversity rich habitats;
• species of conservation significance;
• additional site specific context; and
• the external conservation context.

Our biodiversity partners include: BirdLife International, Conservation International, Earthwatch Institute, Fauna & Flora International and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Water

The World Economic Forum invited Rio Tinto to join its Project Board for a major water initiative from 2008-2010. Our participation at the forum is a unique opportunity to participate at a leadership level in the water debate, to learn from other leading companies about their successful approaches, and to enable others to recognise the good work we have already undertaken in water management.

Land

We belong to international and national policy development forums on land matters, and also participate in multi-lateral initiatives with organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Environment Programme and the Convention on Biological Diversity. As a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals, we help to develop industry policies and practices on protected areas and long term access to land.

At the end of 2008 our operational footprint was 1,832km². This footprint represents five per cent of the total operational land holding. As at the end of 2008, 467km² (25 per cent) of our footprint has been rehabilitated.

Climate change

Our executive committee sponsors energy efficiency projects. During 2008, we formed a new Energy and Climate Strategy team to provide strategic direction and support to the businesses.

Changing our emissions profile is a long term challenge. During 2008 we progressed a number of projects targeting emissions reductions:

• Rio Tinto Alcan continues to invest in clean hydropower through the upgrade of the Shipshaw power station. It is also upgrading the Kitimat smelter in British Columbia, by deploying its proprietary AP smelting technology.
• Rio Tinto Iron Ore announced an upgrade of its Pilbara power station using more efficient technology which will reduce emissions by 14 per cent.
• Kennecott Utah Copper is constructing a lower emissions combined heat and power plant and
• Richards Bay Minerals is developing power generation from furnace off gas.
• Scientists from Australia's CRCMining research centre and energy company AGL are working with Coal & Allied's Mount Thorley Warkworth mine in New South Wales. They are investigating capture of coal seam methane gas

We are developing a project entitled Natural Capital. This will investigate the business case and methodologies around designing and implementing ecosystem service offsets and investments in non operational, land based assets. 

At our Kennecott Copper operation in Utah we have successfully developed and then sold wetland credits as part of our Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve project. In Madagascar we are exploring the possibility of developing ecosystem service credits around water and biodiversity at a number of our conservation management sites. Natural Capital has the potential to create green market credits such as these through both regulatory and voluntary markets.

Read more about initiatives in the area of environmental stewardship, water management, waste management, biodiversity, climate change and land stewardship.