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Climate position and advocacy

We have put the low-carbon transition at the heart of our business strategy: combining investments in commodities that enable the energy transition with actions to decarbonise our operations and value chains.

Our strategy and approach to climate change are supported by strong governance, and we are building our processes and capabilities to enable us to reach net zero emissions from our operations by 2050.

Climate change has formed part of our strategic thinking and investment decisions for over 2 decades and was a fundamental component in our strategy development process in 2021. Recently, there has been a rapid shift in the external context on tackling climate change. This includes the increasingly ambitious emissions targets set by many governments in the lead up to COP26; developments in low-carbon technologies, such as renewables and electric vehicles, and their falling costs; as well as the increasing international co-ordination on climate policies, including carbon pricing.

In parallel, society’s expectations continue to rise. Companies extracting minerals must reduce their impact on the environment and host communities and go beyond regulatory obligations to drive the development of more sustainable value chains. An emerging theme in tackling these issues is the circular economy, which is built around avoiding and reducing waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. The infinitely recyclable nature of our products, potential utilisation of waste streams, and re-use of assets could create considerable near and long-term growth and partnership opportunities as the world tackles climate change.

We support the International Council on Mining and Metals Climate Change Statement

As stewards of the minerals and metals that are critical to decarbonisation and sustainable development, we embrace our responsibility to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment.”

Our Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm has joined with other CEOs on the International Council on Mining and Metals in signing a Climate Change Statement that commits us to a goal of net zero from our operations by 2050 or sooner.

We have made this collective commitment because we believe many of the sustainability challenges facing our industry, and the planet, require collective action to solve.

Last year, we announced our ambition to reach net zero from our operations by 2050. Our support for the statement confirms this ambition as a clear commitment.

Disclosures consistent with the TCFD recommendations

Climate-related disclosures on governance, strategy, risk management, as well as metrics and targets, are integrated into our Annual Report in the following sections: Strategic Context, Key Performance Indicators, Innovation, Risk Management, Principal risks and Uncertainties, Governance, the Sustainability Committee report, the Remuneration Committee report and in the notes to the accounts.

Our position on climate change

In 2015, we supported the adoption of the Paris Agreement and the long-term goal to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. Government policy that creates the right framework for change is critical, coupled with real business action and societal shifts. A challenge as serious as climate change requires transparency, collaboration and a shared contribution to the solution. To achieve our decarbonisation goals and to support global goals, we need policy that promotes the production and consumption of low-carbon metals and minerals.

Summary of our positions on climate change policy

  • Adapting to climate change

    We recognise the importance of adaptation and increasing resilience to a changing climate.

  • Climate science and the Paris Agreement

    We agree with the mainstream climate science published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We support the Glasgow Climate Pact, in which governments resolved to pursue efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C that “requires rapid, deep and sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing global carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030 relative to the 2010 level and to net zero around mid-century, as well as deep reductions in other greenhouse gases”. Consequently, we do not advocate for policies that undermine the Paris Agreement or discount Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

  • Competitiveness

    Minerals and metals are globally traded, so effective climate policy should incentivise the private sector to invest in low-carbon technology without undermining the competitiveness of trade-exposed industries and shifting production, jobs and supply chains to countries with lower emissions standards (carbon leakage). If there is significant regional variation in carbon prices, carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM), or alternative policies, are necessary to limit leakage, provided they are pragmatic, effective and equitable.

  • Market mechanisms and emissions trading

    Where climate policies are implemented, we support the use of market mechanisms, including a market-based price on carbon such as in emissions trading systems. We believe this is the best way of stimulating innovation and achieving emissions reductions at least cost.

  • Other policy tools

    Carbon pricing, on its own, might not be sufficient to transform the metals sector. Other policy tools are necessary to tackle emissions and simultaneously achieve objectives related to industrial policy. These can include:

    • grant funding, tax incentives and investment incentives to support research and development, innovation and first-of-a-kind projects
    • product standards and procurement obligations (such as minimum and rising requirements for low or zero carbon metal) that drive deployment of pre-commercial technology
  • Paris Agreement

    We support the outcomes of the Paris Agreement and the long-term goal to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. We support governments as they raise the ambition of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

  • Putting a price on carbon

    A market-based price on carbon is the most effective way to incentivise the private sector to make low-carbon investments and drive down emissions. Based on our current assumptions, carbon prices below $100/tCO2e may be enough for us to decarbonise power and support our investment in renewable generation and firming infrastructure. Higher carbon prices and other forms of support are necessary to address harder-to-abate parts of our carbon footprint, such as process heat and carbon anodes, and remain commercially competitive in a global market.

  • The role of business

    Business has a vital role in addressing and managing the risks and uncertainties of climate change and driving emissions to net zero. A range of policy measures is necessary to support the early movers in our sector that innovate and deploy low-carbon technology. Our policy principles provide a common architecture for the positions we take in different jurisdictions – policy should be effective, fair, pragmatic, market-based and support free trade.

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Climate change report

The low-carbon transition is at the heart of our business strategy

Climate and energy policy advocacy

Significant global and regional progress on climate change will only happen when everyone – business, governments, investors, civil society organisations and consumers – plays their part. Our own approach to climate change requires active engagement on relevant policies with a range of stakeholders in the countries where we operate.

Our responses to government consultations are guided by our overall policy positions that include support for market mechanisms, as we believe this is the best way of stimulating innovation and achieving emissions reductions at least cost. Our submissions are typically developed by subject matter experts, reviewed by government relations and legal teams, and then approved by the relevant country director or senior executive.

Australia

  • Net Zero 2050 Plan

    April 2024 – We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water on the Electricity and Energy Sector Plan discussion paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    409 KB
  • Climate-related Financial Disclosures

    November 2023 - We responded to the Australian Government Treasury on the Sustainable Finance Strategy consultation paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    276 KB

    December 2022 - We responded to the Australian Government Treasury on the Climate-related financial disclosure consultation paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    333 KB
  • Energy and Technology innovation

    July 2024 - We responded to the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources on the Unlocking green metals opportunities for a Future Made in Australia consultation paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    154 KB

    July 2024 - We responded to the Australian Government Departments of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water AND of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts on the Low Carbon Liquid Fuels - A Future Made in Australia: Unlocking Australia’s low carbon liquid fuel opportunity consultation paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    145 KB

    August 2023 - We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water on the Hydrogen Headstart, National Hydrogen Strategy Review and Capacity Investment Scheme consultation paper

    Our submission - Hydrogen Headstart
    PDF
    111 KB
    Our submission - National Hydrogen Strategy
    PDF
    92 KB
    Our submission - Capacity Investment Scheme
    PDF
    115 KB

    June 2020 - We responded to the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources on the Technology Investment Roadmap - June 2020

    Our submission
    PDF
    261 KB
  • Guarantee of Origin and Renewable Electricity Certification

    February 2023 - We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on Australia’s Guarantee of Origin Scheme consultation paper and Renewable Electricity Certification consultation paper

    Our submission - Guarantee of Origin Scheme
    PDF
    156 KB
    Our submission - Renewable Electricity Certification
    PDF
    136 KB
  • National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme

    May 2024 - We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water on the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme 2024 Proposed Amendments consultation paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    137 KB

    April 2023 – We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water on the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme 2023 Proposed Amendments consultation paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    146 KB
  • Safeguard Mechanism

    February 2023 - We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water on the Safeguard Mechanism reform consultation on proposed design

    Our submission
    PDF
    324 KB

    September 2022 - We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water on the Safeguard Mechanism Reform consultation paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    320 KB
  • The Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme

    October 2023 – We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water on the Implementation of Recommendations of the Independent Review of the ACCU Review discussion paper

    Our submission
    PDF
    96 KB
  • Carbon Leakage Review

    December 2023 - We responded to the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water's consultation on the proposed approach to assess and address carbon leakage risk, as part of the Carbon Leakage Review

    Our submission
    PDF
    209 KB

New Zealand

  • New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

    February 2020 - We responded to the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment on proposed New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme settings, including unit supply and price controls, to be set through regulations in mid-2020

    Our submission
    PDF
    562 KB

    January 2020 - We responded to the National Government of New Zealand on amendments to the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to improve the operation of the NZ ETS

    Our submission
    PDF
    489 KB

Working with our industry associations

Our annual review of our industry association memberships supplements the Climate Change Report and provides a complete list of the major industry associations that take positions on climate change and sets out the elements used to evaluate their policy positions and advocacy:

  1. Accept mainstream climate science
  2. 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
  3. Support governments as they raise the ambition of their Nationally Determined Contributions
  4. Support market mechanisms, including carbon pricing, that stimulate innovation and cost-effective emissions reductions and minimise competitive distortions within and across sectors and jurisdictions
  5. Recognise the valuable contribution that renewable energy sources make in reducing emissions, not undermine the role renewables have in the energy mix
  6. Ensure that any positions and advocacy on 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 targets

The review provides further information on any major industry associations whose positions and advocacy on climate and energy policy significantly differ from Rio Tinto’s key positions on these issues.

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