Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Purpose & Values
The drive for innovation and continuous improvement is at the heart of our purpose
Business Strategy
Climate change is at the heart of our business strategy
We are 150
150 years of finding better ways
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
Iron ore is the primary raw material used to make steel
7 things the world will need for a low-carbon future
Wind, sun and water – what else do you need to make renewable energy work?
Sustainability – the expectation, not the exception
Shaping our aluminium product offering to meet demand for greener metals
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Look inside a mine of the future
Our most intelligent mine yet is pioneering new mining technologies
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Sustainability Reporting 2022
We have a responsibility to extract the full value from the minerals and materials we produce in the safest and most sustainable way possible
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Tailings
We’ve launched a new interactive map of our tailings facilities
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
Results
Half Year Results 2023 released 26 July
Get the latest news, stories and updates
Nammuldi rock shelter
Our statement on the Nammuldi rock shelter
Fuelling our tanks with renewable diesel
Diesel made from renewable raw materials is helping us reduce emissions
Rio Tinto commits $150 million to Centre for Future Materials led by Imperial College London
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Industry associations have an important role to play in the policy development process, the sharing of best practice and the development of standards. Industry associations provide us with a leadership opportunity, allowing us to better understand a range of external views and contribute our perspectives and experiences in support of a coordinated approach which benefits business, the economy and society.
We recognise there is increasing stakeholder interest in industry associations and the role they play in policy advocacy.
Each industry association is different. Some focus on a thematic mandate and promote best practice in a given domain; while others gather a broader set of companies and represent a sector’s interest to government, policy makers and other stakeholders. Our participation across different industry associations will also vary, with more active engagement in associations on issues where we can benefit, influence and add value.
Our positions on climate change policy were updated as part of the 2022 Climate Change Report. These provide a common architecture for the positions we take with all of our stakeholders including governments, investors, civil society and industry associations.
We have updated our principles for industry association advocacy to align with our new positions on climate change policy. In summary, we expect policy positions and advocacy by our industry associations to satisfy all of the following:
In February 2024 we will release our annual disclosure measuring the advocacy of our associations against these principles. Download our more detailed breakdown of how we measure alignment against these principles.
We join industry associations where membership provides value to our business, investors and other stakeholders.
The value of membership and the scope of services provided to members of industry associations varies by industry association for each and may include:
Positions taken by industry associations on a given topic will consider a range of members’ views, and the nuance and emphasis of an industry association’s position may differ from ours. Diverse and differing views should be heard in order to support rich and full debate, reach compromises where appropriate, and make progress on solutions to complex issues. We encourage industry associations to engage broadly with other stakeholders (such as investors and non-government organisations). We expect our industry associations to employ best practice in their political engagement.
In our engagement with industry associations and more broadly, we do not favour any political party, group or individual.
We operate on a politically neutral basis. No political donations are made by the Group. However, in accordance with the United States Federal Election Campaign Act, US employees formed a Political Action Committee (PAC) in 1990 to facilitate bipartisan voluntary political contributions. The PAC operates in compliance with federal and state campaign finance laws.
This content is approved by our Board. Responsibility for the application of this document to individual association membership is delegated to management on a ‘comply or explain’ basis.
Recognising that industry associations’ views will not always be the same as ours, we periodically review our memberships in individual industry associations. This assessment may include:
Where significant differences in policy positions arise, we may:
Membership fees payable to industry associations are often based on either production volumes or revenue, and in some cases are subject to a cap. Generally, the annual subscription fee payable is an aggregate amount – that is, no part of the annual fee is earmarked for any particular purpose or activity. On some occasions, we pay charges in addition to membership fees to industry associations, these are typically for one-off projects or exceptional undertakings.
Our top five industry association memberships by fees are detailed in the table below.
Industry association
Jurisdiction
Rationale for membership
Fee paid ($US)
Minerals Council of Australia (MCA)
Australia
The MCA represents Australia’s exploration, mining and minerals processing industry nationally and internationally. They advocate for an industry that is sustainable, profitable and competitive while also contributing to sustainable development and society.
$1,965,000
International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM)
International
ICMM is dedicated to a safe, fair and sustainable mining and metals industry. It serves as a catalyst for change, enhancing mining's contribution to society.
$1,123,000
Natural Diamond Council (NDC)
The NDC’s purpose is to protect and promote the integrity and reputation of diamonds, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the diamond industry.
$1,080,000
Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC)
$716,000
US National Mining Association (NMA)
US
The NMA is a leading voice of the US mining industry and represents all mining sectors.
$626,000
In addition to the information above on our memberships of industry associations in general, we provide particular information in relation to our membership of industry associations and climate and energy policy.
Climate change presents a significant challenge for the world and for Rio Tinto. Read more about our approach to climate change.
Significant progress towards a solution to climate change will only occur where there is broad engagement involving the breadth of experience and opinion from business, governments, investors, civil society organisations and consumers. Government policy that creates the right framework for change is critical, coupled with real business action and societal shifts. Collaboration across countries, industries and society is key to achieving the systemic change needed to meet climate challenges.
Our approach to climate change therefore requires active engagement on climate and energy policy with governments, industry associations, investors and civil society in the countries where we operate.
With our industry associations, we expect any positions and advocacy to be accepting of mainstream climate-science. We encourage our industry associations to challenge themselves to raise their climate ambition and consider how they can advocate for the emissions cuts required to meet the goals in the Paris Agreement. We do not support advocacy for policies that undermine the Paris Agreement or discount Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
We expect our industry associations to align with us on the journey to achieve the goals in the Paris Agreement.
[1] This information supplements information provided in our Climate Change Report and in our annual CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) submissions on industry associations that take positions on climate change and energy.
We list all our major industry associations important to our policy advocacy approach and that take positions on climate and energy issues in the table below.
Stated policy positions and advocacy are on balance aligned with Rio Tinto climate and energy policy
Stated policy positions and advocacy are on balance partially aligned with Rio Tinto climate and energy policy
Stated policy positions and advocacy are on balance not aligned with Rio Tinto climate and energy policy
Industry Association
Engagement
Australian Aluminium Council (AAC)
The AAC represents the aluminium industry in Australia. It acts as a focal point for the industry on key national issues such as climate change, energy, trade, health and the environment.
Our Aluminium business is one of the major participants in this organisation, and a Rio Tinto representative is a member of the board.
Australian Industry Greenhouse Network (AIGN)
The AIGN is a network of industry associations and individual businesses that contribute to the climate change policy debate. Through joint industry action, they seek to promote sustainable industry development.
Rio Tinto participates in the monthly AIGN meetings.
Business Council of Australia (BCA)
Clean Energy Council (CEC)
Maritime Industry Australia Limited (MIAL)
The MCA represents Australia’s exploration, mining and minerals processing industry nationally and internationally including its contribution to sustainable development and society.
A Rio Tinto representative is a member of the board. We actively participate in the energy and climate change standing committee and continue to be engaged with the MCA’s climate and energy position.
Chamber of Minerals & Energy of WA (CMEWA)
Australia (Western Australia)
CMEWA represents members across mining, oil and gas and resources sector services. They support an innovative and competitive Western Australian resources sector, which delivers value to the community and strengthens sector practices.
Rio Tinto has a position on the Advisory Board and Executive Council. Rio Tinto also has membership of various committees, working groups and reference groups, such as the climate policy and energy efficiency reference group.
Canada
The AAC represents the Canadian primary aluminium industry, and strives to ensure that the Canadian primary aluminium industry is considered a world-class model of sustainable prosperity.
A Rio Tinto representative is a member of the board and Rio Tinto is one of three major members of the association.
Business Council of Canada (BCC)
The BCC represents Canada’s leading enterprises and brings business leaders together to shape public policy in the interests of a stronger Canada and a better world.
Rio Tinto is a member of the BCC.
Canadian American Business Council (CABC)
The CABC is an issues-oriented organisation dedicated to elevating the private sector perspective on issues that affect Canada and the US. Activities include high-level briefings on issues of current concern, assistance with practical trade and policy challenges, significant networking opportunities, and seminars.
A Rio Tinto representative is a member of the board.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC)
The CCC is a broad-based business association that advocates for public policies that will foster a strong, competitive economic environment that benefits businesses, communities and families across Canada.
Energy Transitions Commission (ETC)
International Aluminium Institute (IAI)
The IAI represents the global primary aluminium industry. It promotes responsible production and sustainable applications and recycling of aluminium.
An RTA representative is a member of the board. A company representative chairs one of the main committees, and representatives are active participants in several working groups.
International Copper Association
The International Copper Association represent the global copper industry. They seek to develop copper markets while making a positive contribution to the UN Sustainable Development goals.
A Rio Tinto representative is a member of the executive committee. Rio Tinto representatives are active participants in several working groups.
Rio Tinto's Chief Executive is a member of the ICMM Council. We are an active participant in the climate change and energy working group.
International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
IETA’s mission is to empower business to engage in climate action, advancing the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement as informed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change science, and establish effective market-based trading systems for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removal that are environmentally robust, fair, open, efficient, accountable and consistent across national boundaries.
A Rio Tinto representative is a member of IETA’s Council. Rio Tinto representatives are active participants in several working groups.
Natural Diamond Council
Rio Tinto has a position on the NDC Board.
1. MinCoSA is committed to the implementation of carbon markets but have raised concerns about the design of proposals for a carbon tax from the South African Government. These proposals are viewed as an attempt to generate revenue rather than a measure to transition the South African economy to a low-carbon trajectory. Rio Tinto met with MinCoSA to discuss their concerns. MinCoSA’s concerns about the design of the carbon tax are shared by Rio Tinto and do not constitute opposition to the implementation of a carbon tax itself.
We also provide further information on any of those industry associations whose positions and advocacy on climate and energy policy significantly differ from Rio Tinto’s climate and energy elements below.
The National Mining Association (NMA) advocates for national and international mining interests in the US. Although there are many areas of agreement on issues such as mining law reform, safety and public land management, and the Resolution Copper project, there is a significant departure on climate and energy policy positions between the NMA and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto has a position on the board, but does not sit on the Executive Committee.
The NMA has been valuable in addressing COVID-19-related issues, Mining Law reform, public land issues, and some issues regarding Resolution Copper. However, challenges remain around NMA’s climate change position and alignment with Rio Tinto’s stated climate goals.
Rio Tinto has communicated our company’s position on the need to address climate change and recommended that NMA align with us. Rio Tinto further advocated for the NMA to create an environmental, social and governance (ESG) task force which will guide the NMA’s future positioning on these matters. While the NMA adopted ESG policy positions, with our company being a leading proponent, NMA needs to recognise the views of all of its members, some of whom continue to challenge references to the Paris Agreement. Moreover, the NMA continues to support incentives for thermal coal to maintain base load generation, price and grid stability. Rio Tinto will continue working towards better alignment of NMA policy with Rio Tinto policy and will review our membership on an annual basis.
Paris Agreement
The NMA does not support the Paris Agreement on the grounds that it believes that it would have damaging effects on the US economy.
Advance the Paris Agreement goals to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Market Mechanisms
The NMA's advocacy and policy are unsupportive of a carbon tax; however, the NMA is committed to reasonable solutions to reduce the global climate challenge. The mining industry continues to proactively undertake efforts to protect the environment, including measuring and reducing its carbon footprint through continual investment in and implementation of technology solutions, energy conservation and efficiency programs.
Support market mechanisms, including carbon pricing, that stimulate innovation and cost-effective emissions reductions and minimise competitive distortions within and across sectors and jurisdictions.
Positions and advocacy on the use of coal
The NMA supports incentives for thermal coal to maintain base load generation, price and grid stability.
Ensure that any positions on and advocacy of the use of coal do not support subsidies and note that it will require advanced technology, and, in the medium to long term, must be consistent with Paris Agreement targets.
The US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) represents the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions. Rio Tinto is a member of the Chamber’s energy and climate change committee. The USCC has been valuable regarding protecting Resolution Copper’s licence to operate, and geopolitical supply chain issues around China and Southeast Asia.
The Chamber previously had significant policy differences to us, but following engagement they subsequently adjusted their position.
The Chamber welcomed the Biden Administration’s decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and its advocacy for the US to take a leadership stance in the Paris talks to facilitate meaningful global progress and to maintain and enhance the competitiveness of US business in a global market. Further, the Chamber supports reducing emissions at the pace of innovation.
The USCC is ranked as partially aligned as some advocacy regarding coal continues to be inconsistent with the Paris Agreement targets.
We will continue to engage with the USCC to ensure that any positions on and advocacy of the use of coal do not support subsidies and note that it will require advanced technology, and, in the medium to long term, must be consistent with Paris Agreement targets.
The USCC has made statements that coal will be an important part of the energy mix into the future, when used cleanly and responsibly, but does not explicitly state the requirement for advanced technology.
In accordance with the provisions governing the monitoring of our industry association memberships, we may decide to suspend our support and membership of industry associations if an industry association’s policy positions or advocacy differ significantly from Rio Tinto’s climate and energy policy and such differences appear incapable of being resolved.
Such a decision will take into account other benefits, unrelated to climate change, that membership of such associations brings to Rio Tinto, its investors and other stakeholders.
Please note the above text represents a consolidation of previous reports. For completeness, these can be viewed through the links below:
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With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
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As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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