Mining Association of Canada adds new actions to address climate change

MAC and its members adopt recommendations from advisory body

OTTAWA, Oct. 2, 2017 /CNW/ - To further enhance its climate change efforts, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) and its members have committed to undertake more than a dozen additional actions to help in the fight against climate change.

These actions are based on recommendations from the association's Community of Interest (COI) Advisory Panel?an independent, multi-stakeholder group that advises MAC on the Towards Sustainable Mining^® (TSM^®) initiative and on issues of mutual interest.

In light of Canada signing on to the Paris Agreement and MAC members' climate change commitments, the COI Panel issued an advisory statement to MAC in November 2016. The statement identified potential opportunities to build on the industry's progress over the past two decades on climate change. It also acknowledged MAC and its members for committing to be constructive partners in the global fight against climate change, pointing to MAC's Principles for Climate Change Policy Design. The principles noted MAC and its members' support for a broad-based price on carbon, one that protects emissions-intensive and trade-exposed sectors, minimizes compliance burden, and is sensitive to regional and geographical circumstances.

"We thank the members of the Panel for their thoughtful and constructive recommendations. Thanks to their input, we have a set of actions that will allow us to build on the significant progress that MAC and its members have made over the past two decades to address climate change," stated Pierre Gratton, President and CEO, MAC. "Operating some of the lowest-emitting mines throughout the world, our members are committed to sustainably producing the minerals, metals and energy products needed for the transition to a low carbon future."

In the months following the release of the Panel's advisory statement, MAC worked in consultation with the Panel and experts within its membership to determine how to best incorporate the recommendations. This work has led MAC and its members to commit to undertake 13 actions under the six areas below, and further details are available in MAC's response to the COI Panel's advisory statement:

• Towards Sustainable Mining: Review the TSM program to identify further opportunities to incorporate climate change-related action and guidance; and encourage performance improvement in GHG reductions.
• Operations Level: Seek opportunities to expand the use of low emissions technologies; advocate for government investment in mining innovation to expedite progress; conduct climate change risk assessments; and implement appropriate adaptation measures.
• Local and Indigenous Communities: Explore ways to assist communities in increasing access to and managing renewable energy technologies; and support community development of energy efficient, healthy and local sustainable food supplies.
• Supply Chains: Encourage the mining supply chain to develop innovative and low energy technologies; communicate the role of mining products in the transition to a low carbon future; assess opportunities for the industry to work with others to recycle products containing minerals and metals.
• Public Policy Engagement: Share MAC members' innovative initiatives related to climate change, energy and community development; enhance Canadians' understanding of the link between minerals, metals and energy products in low carbon solutions; advocate for public policies that lead to an effective price on carbon and stimulate demand for low carbon infrastructure; and work alongside other organizations to achieve common goals.
• Disclosure of Climate Risks and Opportunities: Continue to disclose climate-change related information, including GHG emissions data; and identify ways to further enhance data disclosure.

BACKGROUNDERS:

• The Mining Industry Action on Climate Change
• Mining and its Role in Clean Technology
• Climate Change Initiatives and Innovations in the Mining Industry

About MAC
The Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for most of Canada's production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal and mined oil sands, and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Please visit www.mining.ca. 

SOURCE Mining Association of Canada (MAC)