Tackling Climate Change and Energy Use: A Rio Tinto Priority

Climate change is now an issue of recognized global importance. All Rio Tinto companies and projects realize that they must play a part in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change. Rio Tinto is also investing in research and development to find ways to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions over time.

This is not simply the environmentally responsible approach to take – it will also help to ensure Rio Tinto’s continued access to markets and will enable the company to retain its license to operate around the world.

Rio Tinto continues to publicly report actions and results under the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). CDP includes a coalition of more than 315 investors with more than $41 trillion in assets. It is an independent, not-for-profit organization which studies the business implications of climate change. Its goal is to facilitate a dialogue, supported by quality information, from which a rational response to climate change will emerge. In 2006 Rio Tinto was named in the annual CDP Report as sector leader for metals, mining and steel with a score of 95 on a 100-point scale in the Climate Leadership Index.

Rio Tinto is also a producer and supplier of products that contribute to better energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions. For example, copper is a critical component for high efficiency motors and for the efficient conductivity of energy, borates help provide energy efficient insulation, and aluminum contributes to light-weight vehicles and equipment that reduce fuel use.

Resolution Copper Looks to the Future

While Resolution Copper mining is still in the pre-feasibility evaluation stage of its operations, we are planning for the future when it comes to an environmentally responsible and energy-efficient mining approach. For example, we expect to register for and receive ISO 14001 certification by the end of 2007 (see ISO 14001 article). We are also completing the baseline work needed to identify all potential environmental impacts of our mining operations, and results will be detailed in an Environmental Impact Study, or EIS, which will help guide our operations. We plan to make the EIS available to the public by 2009.

As part of the EIS, we are evaluating ways to minimize greenhouse gas effects, examining alternative water sources and methods for using water as efficiently as possible, and evaluating alternatives for electrical supply. Potential clean, efficient energy sources for our future mining operations include geo-thermal, solar and hydro-electric power.

Return to the Issues Brief Winter 2007

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