Climate Change

Minerals and metals are crucial to meeting global climate goals. There is a natural synergy between mining and clean energy technology. Raw materials are transformed into technologies that, in turn, assist mining operations in reducing their environmental footprints and enhancing efficiency and reliability. Canada has rich deposits of many of the minerals and metals needed in renewable energy technologies. For example, Canada is home to 14 of the 19 metals and minerals needed to make a solar panel. GHG emissions are gases emitted, by human or natural causes, which then trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. This warming of the atmosphere leads to climate change, causing more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and melting polar regions, among other impacts. In global climate change discussions, stakeholders refer to Scope 1 , Scope 2 , and Scope 3 emissions. Scope 1 emissions are those for which you are directly responsible, like using gas in a vehicle or producing energy on site. Scope 2 emissions are those for which you are indirectly responsible, like the emissions produced by the local power company when you provide electricity to a home or business. Scope 3 emissions are those within the supply chain for a given product or activity, like the emissions produced when transporting a product to a customer. Did You Know? Did You Know? Climate Change What is Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM)? A globally recognized sustainability program that helps mining companies manage their environmental and social responsibilities and evaluate and publicly report their performance A mandatory requirement for companies in a growing number of mining associations around the world, offering tools to drive continuous performance improvements Climate Change The TSM Climate Change Protocol lays out a clear set of criteria for companies to: • Commit to ambitious climate action in business strategy and decision-making • Manage climate change through comprehensive systems for energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and adaptation to physical impacts • Set targets and report on a mine’s performance on climate action Raising the Bar: Leading Practice in Climate Change What does good practice look like? • A corporate climate change strategy that is integrated into broader business planning and publicly reported • Corporate governance structures to ensure that climate-related risks and opportunities are being considered, managed, and reported • A comprehensive system to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions • Management of physical climate impacts , including identifying and considering physical climate risks in decision-making and putting in place adaptation measures • Performance targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with progress demonstrated towards these targets