Mining sector methods will evolve to meet climate aims

Significance

Miners have started to introduce innovative technologies to improve sustainability and most are targeting emissions reductions. However, approaches and ambitions differ, and the EU is yet to extend its sustainability measurements to mining.

Impacts

• Anglo American has announced plans to divest from coal assets; any other miners with coal assets are likely to follow.
• Russia’s gold miner Polymetal has a six-year ‘green loan’ to invest in projects that will cut the environmental impact of its operations.
• Faced with water stress in Chile, lithium producer SQM is devising new ways to reduce its operations’ impact on aquifer depletion.