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.
