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Sustainability

The Australian minerals industry is committed to responsible mining through continual improvement of environmental stewardship and social performance and by contributing to sustainable development.

Overview

The success of Australia’s minerals industry, both now and in the future, depends upon its ability to operate in line with community expectations on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

Australian companies are global leaders in innovative, high-tech mining and lead the way in ESG practice. The Australian industry’s sustainability credentials are recognised globally, and its expertise and leading practice is exported around the world.

Minerals projects must be safe and environmentally and socially responsible in order to both make an economic contribution and support societal ambitions, such as those expressed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Australian companies are global leaders in innovative, high-tech mining and lead the way in ESG practice. The Australian industry’s sustainability credentials are recognised globally, and its expertise and leading practice is exported around the world.

The industry have a long history of collaboration to develop standards, improve industry practices and drive ESG performance. The MCA developed the sector first Code of Environmental practice in 1997 and Enduring Value – the Australian minerals industry framework for sustainable development in 2005.

MCA member companies are now preparing to adopt the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) ESG accountability framework, which covers sustainability management performance at the site-level.

Policy Priorities

Change the EPBC Act

The MCA supports the governments aim to change the EPBC Act to achieve better environment and business outcomes.

Towards Sustainable Mining

Drive improved biodiversity, water and land management practices through the use of Towards Sustainable Mining systems.

Innovative practice

Provide leading practice frameworks and guidance and improve policy settings on tailings management, water accounting and rehabilitation.

Preserving biodiversity

 

Protecting native wildlife is an important part of every mining project. Many companies undertake voluntary conservation initiatives such as Rio Tinto’s Amrun project which protects endangered marine turtles from feral pigs in Northern Australia. Before the management program began, up to 90 percent of turtle hatchlings were lost to feral pigs. The project has set itself a target of achieving a 70 percent decrease in turtle nest destruction over three years.

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Related Policies

Communities

Supporting people, families and communities to achieve what matters most to them is part of mining’s commitment to regional Australia.

Indigenous partnerships

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander landholders and communities are core partners in mining’s social and economic contribution to Australia.

Land Use and Water Stewardship

Access to land and water is earned by demonstrating responsible land stewardship throughout the mining life cycle.

Towards Sustainable Mining

Established in 2004 by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), TSM provides sustainability tools and indicators to help companies responsibly manage environmental, social and governance performance and record and drive performance.

Related Resources

Explore more
  • ESG: Change for the better
  • Enduring Value Framework
  • Sustainability in Action Report
  • Towards Sustainable Mining brochure
  • Water Accounting Framework 2.0

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Other Policies

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Economic Policy

Australian mining is a nation builder and global leader. It is Australia’s largest exporter, company tax payer and investor in infrastructure.

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Workforce, innovation and skills

A highly skilled and technologically advanced future workforce will be required for the specialist mining occupations coming online.

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Trade and Investment

Trade, investment and economic co-operation maximise opportunities for Australia’s mining and minerals processing industry to boost national income, generate government revenue and create high value jobs.

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Safety and health

The safety, health and psychological wellbeing of the mining workforce is the industry’s number one value and commitment.

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Energy and climate change

To achieve net zero emissions, Australia requires a stable policy framework enabling all low emissions technologies to participate in competitive decarbonisation of the economy.

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 Workplace relations

Australia needs a modern and adaptable workplace system that attracts investment, drives sustainable wage growth, supports communities and contributes to national prosperity.

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    Peter Kos - 0447 452 675 peter.kos@minerals.org.au
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