World’s largest mining companies pledge net zero emissions by 2050

The largest mining companies in the world signed a pledge on Tuesday to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner.

“As the suppliers of the minerals and metals that are critical to decarbonisation and sustainable development, we have a particular responsibility to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment,” Rohitesh Dhawan, CEO of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), said in a statement.

“ICMM members’ collective commitment to net zero scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2050 is a pivotal moment in our history,” Dhawan added. “We are speaking with one voice, representing approximately one third of the global mining and metals industry — including more than 650 sites in over 50 countries — so that we drive emissions reduction at a significant scale.”

According to the organization, this commitment is made to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The ICMM includes companies like Anglo American, Mitsubishi Materials and Glencore.

The organization said it hoped its collective commitment would “encourage our suppliers and customers to join us in decarbonising our value chains while we support the decarbonisation of the value chains of others.”