PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) on Monday unveiled its Climate Action Plan, demonstrating the Australian resources industry’s commitment to decarbonizing the economy and to address climate change.

CEO Tania Constable said that the plan outlines how the MCA and its members are taking action on climate change as part of the minerals sector’s collective commitment to the Paris Agreement and its goal of net zero emissions globally and in Australia.

The plan's three core objectives include enabling the potential of technology to decarbonise the minerals sector, increasing transparency in reporting, and sharing of practical knowledge on climate responses.

“Sustained climate action across all nations is required to reduce the risks of human-induced climate change and to support world-wide decarbonisation as the world transforms to a lower emissions future,” Constable said.

“This is a global undertaking of major technological, economic and social challenge in which Australia and the minerals sector will play their part. With this plan, the sector acknowledges the critical importance of technology in reducing emissions. The minerals industry works with manufacturing and innovation partners to invent, develop and deploy new techniques and technologies.

“It is clear that the scale of the technology-led transformation required will not occur without the minerals and raw materials provided by the Australian mining sector. The industry sees great opportunities for minerals such as lithium, cobalt and copper in all forms of transport infrastructure, communications and energy systems,” she said.

The MCA’s Climate Action Plan is made up of two components; an enduring 10-point framework to support the three core objectives and a comprehensive three-year rolling workplan with 30 activities.

“With this plan, the sector acknowledges the critical importance of technology in reducing emissions. It lays the groundwork for the Australian minerals sector to share its knowledge and support emission reductions within the sector.

“The minerals industry has already taken a strong proactive approach on research, development and deployment of technology applications across our businesses. Major opportunities exist in pursuing decarbonisation including through operational efficiencies, abatement, developing and deploying low emissions technologies including renewables, hydrogen, proven, safe and reliable carbon capture utilisation and storage and advanced nuclear solutions, as well as digitisation, automation, and electrification,” Constable added.

“The sector will support the development of cleaner energy options through the development of critical minerals to enable their application as well as taking a lead on commodity stewardship looking at global procurement practices, circular economy, and traceability of commodities through their lifecycle.

“Practical and cost-effective options are already being developed and put into action across the minerals value chain. The sector will play its part so that Australia’s minerals can be sustainably mined, refined and consumed to support more sustainable economic growth and social progress in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the global climate goals of the Paris Agreement.”

Constable said that the Climate Action Plan will be reviewed annually and publicly reported on to ensure it remains consistent with Australia’s climate policy ambitions in support of the Paris Agreement.