MCA Climate Action Plan a delay tactic with no detail or tangible actions

Sydney, 22 June, 2020: The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) is challenging the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) to articulate any tangible steps for its Climate Action Plan, released today.

Key things that were expected from this policy that continue to be missing from the MCA include:

• A commitment around carbon pricing or any broader policies to decarbonise;
• Tangible dates and milestones for full decarbonisation, specifically beyond operations and regarding Scope 3 emissions from their products;
• Any specific detail regarding the emissions from coal mining, including fugitive methane emissions;
• Phase out of coal mining or coal-fired power;
• Abandonment of position on Kyoto carryover credits or other discounts to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
• Decarbonisation of steel production.

Dan Gocher, Director of Climate and the Environment, ACCR said:

“After two years, is this really the best they could come up with? There is absolutely nothing new here.”

“This is embarrassing and woefully inadequate: the MCA can’t even commit to net zero emissions by any date. What type of plan is this without any dates or targets?”

“This ‘plan’ is the equivalent of a dead cat on the table - and a clear distraction from the mining industry’s cultural heritage woes.”

“Investors will be sorely disappointed. Investors have given MCA member companies the benefit of the doubt that they could achieve change from within. This policy represents business as usual and further delays to action. Investors must call time on this farce.”

ENDS

Coverage of these statements

• Financial Times, 22 June 2020, Australian miners’ climate plan attacked over lack of targets
• Australian Financial Review, 22 June 2020, Big investors unimpressed by MCA's climate pledge
• The Guardian, 22 June 2020, Minerals Council of Australia endorses net-zero emissions but with no target date
• Sydney Morning Herald, 22 June 2020, Miners' late nod towards climate risks not enough for investors
• Australian Associated Press, 22 June 2020, Mining lobby backs green power, Paris deal
• Mining Global, 22 June 2020, Minerals Council Of Australia Releases Zero Emissions Goal
• RenewEconomy, 22 June 2020, Minerals Council slammed for “woefully inadequate” Climate Action Plan