Decarbonisation Efforts in the Mining Industry: Bridging the Gap to Science-Based Targets
The mining industry stands at a critical juncture in its environmental journey. Global greenhouse gas emissions from mining operations represent a substantial challenge to international climate goals. Recent research by consultancy dss+ highlights the urgent need for accelerated decarbonisation strategies across the sector.
Why Are Decarbonisation Efforts in Mining Falling Short?
The mining sector confronts significant obstacles in reducing carbon emissions. Current data reveals a stark reality: mining's direct greenhouse gas emissions contribute 4%-7% globally, expanding to a substantial 28% (19,440 megatons of CO2-equivalent) when accounting for Scope 3 emissions. This comprehensive emissions profile underscores the industry's complex environmental footprint.
Research findings from dss+ indicate a troubling trajectory. The current decarbonisation pathway could result in a 40% shortfall in 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets. Gerhard Bolt, principal at dss+, critically notes, "This trajectory aligns with a future exceeding 2°C of warming…"
What is the Science-Based Target for Mining Emissions?
The Paris Agreement establishes a clear benchmark for decarbonisation: a required reduction rate of 4.5% per year to limit global warming to 1.5°C. However, the industry's performance falls significantly short of this target. Between 2018 and 2021, 52 mining companies achieved only a 2% annual reduction in emissions.
How Do Scope 3 Emissions Add Complexity to Decarbonisation?
Scope 3 emissions present a multifaceted challenge for the mining industry. These emissions encompass downstream impacts, including transportation, processing, and product use. The sector faces a paradoxical situation where critical minerals essential for decarbonisation industries require substantial mining outputs.
Lithium and cobalt, crucial for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies, exemplify this complexity. The demand for these minerals continues to grow, creating tension between increased production and emissions reduction goals.
What Are the Barriers to Accelerating Decarbonisation in Mining?
Mining executives identify several critical challenges impeding decarbonisation efforts:
• Insufficient data collection and monitoring frameworks
• Uneven implementation of decarbonisation methods across different sites
• Cultural resistance within corporate structures
The financial and operational barriers are substantial. Cost implications of new technologies, global policy inconsistencies, and the need for significant infrastructure investments create substantial roadblocks to meaningful emissions reduction.
How Can Mining Companies Overcome Decarbonisation Challenges?
Strategic approaches can help mining companies accelerate their decarbonisation journey. Key recommendations include:
• Implementing internal carbon pricing aligned with net-zero targets
• Adopting renewable energy sources
• Electrifying mining fleet operations
• Enhancing overall operational efficiencies
Gerhard Bolt emphasises the importance of clear, proven strategies to overcome existing barriers. Long-term, coordinated decarbonisation programs across all production sites represent a critical path forward.
How Does Industry Collaboration Speed Progress?
Industry forums like the 2025 Investing in Africa Mining Indaba provide crucial platforms for sharing research and actionable solutions. Public-private partnerships emerge as essential mechanisms for policy reform and investment in greener infrastructure.
Collaborative approaches enable knowledge sharing, technological innovation, and coordinated efforts to address sector-wide decarbonisation challenges. Uranium mining insights demonstrate the potential for industry-wide technological advancements.
What Role Do Stakeholder Expectations Play in Driving Change?
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics have become increasingly influential in investor decision-making. Transparent reporting of decarbonisation milestones has transformed from a voluntary practice to a critical expectation.
Investors now demand measurable sustainability progress, creating additional pressure for meaningful emissions reduction. Investing in mining stocks increasingly considers a company's environmental performance as a key evaluation criterion.
How Can the Mining Sector Balance Decarbonisation with Increased Mineral Demand?
The sector must simultaneously address two critical challenges: reducing emissions while meeting the escalating demand for critical minerals. Innovative approaches such as green hydrogen power for equipment and circular economies for mineral reuse offer promising pathways.
Gold ETFs and other investment vehicles are increasingly scrutinising companies' sustainability credentials, further incentivising meaningful decarbonisation efforts.
Conclusion: The Path Forward for Mining Decarbonisation
The mining industry faces a complex challenge that requires holistic, coordinated action. Leadership vision, technological innovation, and collaborative policies represent the key pillars of successful decarbonisation strategies.
Urgent and sustained efforts are necessary to bridge the current performance gap and align with science-based targets. The future of mining depends on its ability to balance resource extraction with environmental responsibility.
Original research can be found at the Mining Weekly article: Decarbonisation Efforts in Mining Fall Short of Science-Based Targets.
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