Climate change
We accept the urgent need for climate change action and recognise the issue as being one of our greatest challenges and opportunities.
We believe that emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) resulting from human activities are contributing to climate change. Avoiding human-caused changes to the climate is an important international goal. In order to achieve this goal the world needs reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases.
We recognise that addressing the challenge of climate change will impose costs for GHG abatement and necessitate a change in the way the world uses energy. A comprehensive portfolio of policy and technology options will be required to achieve the highest benefit and lowest overall cost for society. See our position on climate change here.
Our climate change programme will undertake initiatives in three key areas:
- Reducing emissions from our operations.
- Understanding and developing low emission product pathways by working with others on supply chain emissions and on breakthrough technologies.
- Engaging with governments and stakeholders to advocate sound and efficient domestic and international policies.
- Approach
- Product lifecycle
- Engagement
- Results
We aim to progressively reduce the GHG emissions and energy footprint of our operations. As a capital intensive business, changing our emissions profile is a long term challenge for us. We are also working to identify step change opportunities to improve our performance over the long term.
Climate change will affect our operations, particularly through the availability of water and extreme weather events. We use a model at the University of Oklahoma to provide regional climate predictions for our sites. This improves our understanding of physical climate change risks and helps us to determine what adaptation measures may be needed in the future. We have started a review of our progress in identifying, managing and communicating these risks to better coordinate and support their integration in project planning and operations.
We differentiate our approach to climate change between our existing operations and new projects. We have targets to improve the energy and GHG intensities of all our operations. However, new technologies offer step change improvements when developing large projects.
Our Executive committee sponsors energy efficiency projects. During 2008, we formed a new Energy & Climate Strategy team to provide strategic direction and support to the businesses.
Proposed emissions trading legislation in Australia
- The current Australian Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) legislation disproportionately impacts the coal, aluminium and alumina industries and threatens the viability of low emissions technology development.
- See all "Our approach" features
Environmental publications
Water strategy sets the standards
- Ethical Corporation, an independent firm that encourages debate and discussion on responsible business practices, has recognised Rio Tinto's water strategy as providing a model for other businesses.
- See all "Our approach" features
Video
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