29 September Climate change action is being driven by business and industry September 29, 2020 By Sally Parker Environment, General, Industry ClimateChange, Industry, ParisAgreement 0 While everyone’s focus in recent months has been on the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change was top of everyone’s mind when the year began with bushfires ravaging Australia. The pandemic has seen individuals and organisations assess their ideologies and perspectives on a range of topics, climate change being one of them. It now seems that climate change is back on everyone’s agenda and none more so than business and industry. While everyone’s focus in recent months has been on the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change was top of everyone’s mind when the year began with bushfires ravaging Australia. The pandemic has seen individuals and organisations assess their ideologies and perspectives on a range of topics, climate change being one of them. It now seems that climate change is back on everyone’s agenda and none more so than business and industry. Underpinning climate change policy is the 2015 Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement had 195 signatory countries who pledged to limit global warming to ideally no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. With mining responsible for between 4 and 7% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, achieving this target requires decarbonisation. This will result in a significant shift in demand for mining commodities and potential profits unless organisations and the industry changes. BHP recently announced its support of the Paris Agreement and climate change approach. The company’s approach is focused on several areas including reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions, and managing climate-related risk and opportunity. To achieve this BHP has set both long and short term goals. It goals including: Achieving net zero operational emissions by 2050; Maintaining operational emissions at or below 2017 levels by 2022, using carbon offsets if required; Reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% from adjusted 2020 levels by 2030 It has also committed to contributing to decarbonisation of their value chain, strengthening the link between executive remuneration and delivery of their climate plan, and providing further insight into how BHP’s portfolio is transitioning to a 1.5°C scenario. Fortescue Metals has also committed to achieve net zero operational emissions by 2040. It has also invested over US$800 million to reduce emissions from power generation by investigating opportunities to increase the use of renewable energy including solar generation and green hydrogen. Some companies are starting to take the lead on initiatives that in turn ensure they can maintain production. For example, the Drayton mine in New South Wales improved evaporation monitoring to reduce water loss. While companies are taking the lead, industry bodies also play an important role in climate change policy. In an acknowledgment of this, BHP has committed to work with industry associations to develop a protocol and plan for advocacy. Their intention here is to assist those associations to improve how they allocate resources and ensure the industry has a consistent and transparent voice on issues related to climate change. The company has gone further by committing to publish material associations it is a member of that have an active position on climate policy and disclose those that materially depart from its global climate policy standards. While this is a promising move, the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) is pushing to go further by streamlining climate change disclosures in Australia and New Zealand. Their proposed changes are based on the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework. The TCFD is a coalition supported by over 300 investors and has recommended that companies disclose their transition risks of decarbonisation to improve decision-making, risk assessment, portfolio management and engagement. The report advocates for disclosures in several areas including: The skill and expertise of the board, directors and executives in climate change; Links between risks and opportunities identified and the company’s strategic and organisational response; and Reporting on both transition and physical risks, costs and implications. The push for a consistent approach to climate change is also supported by the Australian Climate Roundtable - a group that includes not only business interests but environmental groups and unions. They’re concerned that without a clear approach to national targets and roadmaps, Australia will risk investment in favour of other economies. The CEO of the Business Council of Australia, Jennifer Westacott, has said that billions of dollars worth of investment as well as jobs and new industries could be created with a clear climate change policy. The approach reflects changing community attitudes towards climate change. The industry has recognised that being on the front foot with climate change is good business. Related Articles What is concerning mining and metals industry executives today? Recent surveys conducted in the mining and metals industry sector indicate that climate change, price volatility and the risk of a global depression are the top concerns for executives. The KMPG Mining Risk Forecast 2020/21 Report nominates climate change and price risks as top-of-mind for executives while a mid-year survey by White & Case found that the fear of a global recession was the most common concern amongst those surveyed. It’s worth noting that the KMPG survey was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the concerns raised have ongoing relevance both now and into the future. Energy industry and government response to COVID-19 In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, government and industry have come together to ensure the community, economy and industry are supported. The Council of Australian Governments Energy Council (COAG Energy Council) has formed the Energy Coordination Mechanism (ECM) which is expected to have a complete plan by the end of April. The immediate focus of these efforts has been on four areas How COVID-19 could change mining for the better The mining industry was deemed an essential service by the Government, which has enabled it to continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this hasn’t been without its challenges. New processes and procedures were required to address safety and social distancing and issues of supply and worker mobility have impacted how the industry operates. But with adversity comes opportunity and the mining industry has thrived and realised the potential for new improvements amidst the pandemic. Key risks for the industry in 2021 As 2020 draws to a close, industry is looking to the year ahead. EY's 2021 report on the risks in mining and metals reflects the turbulent changes of the past year. Volatility is new to the list, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to inform the way industry leaders are approaching established risks around climate and license to operate. How foreign investment changes may impact the mining and energy sector In early June 2020, the government announced a review of the foreign investment rules, expanding them to apply to all foreign investors in anything deemed a ‘sensitive national security business’. The changes are scheduled to come into effect on 1 January 2021. There are concerns that this will impact foreign investment in the mining and energy sectors, and in particular the critical minerals space. The impact of coronavirus on the energy and resources industry The last few weeks have seen the world face an unprecedented disruption with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). First reported in China, we’re now seeing many countries shutting down for periods of time to try to contain the spread of the virus. Australia is facing a particularly difficult year given the bushfires that ravaged the country recently. Now with COVID-19 adding to the pain, the energy and resources industry is being impacted in several ways outlined below. Showing 0 Comment Comments are closed.