Gold Fields Limited, one of the 28 member companies of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has assented to new climate goals set by the ICMM.
This marks a bold step taken by Gold Fields alongside the other members of the ICMM towards reaching the goal of net zero scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 or sooner in line with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement.
Gold Fields Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chris Griffith commented:
“This is a critical commitment as climate change is the defining societal issue of our time. As humankind we must therefore act collectively and decisively to turn around the global warming trajectory, which is currently well in excess of 2 degrees Celsius, before it’s too late.”
Chris Griffith
He stressed that Gold Fields will continue to invest in large-scale renewable energy projects at its operations… “These projects form part of our journey to radically reduce our Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions at all our operations by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050, if not earlier.”
According to Griffith, Gold Fields has already begun large scale investments into renewable energy projects at Agnew and Granny Smith project in Australia. The company’s projects underway at Gruyere and South Deep in South Africa as well as Sawale Norte project in Chile are all involving renewable energies, he noted.
The CEO affirmed “the company will also work with our peers in the industry, with equipment manufacturers, research organizations, universities and NGOs to further develop ways of reducing our carbon footprint, particularly by introducing zero emission vehicles at our mines.”
Gravitate towards 3 GHG emissions
In a press release statement by the ICMM, Rohitesh Dhawan, the CEO of ICMM is cited to have noted the importance of the role of member companies to decarbonization and sustainable development. He emphasized that member companies have particular responsibility to minimize the impact of mining operations on environment.
“ICMM members’ collective commitment to net zero scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2050 is a pivotal moment in our history. 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”.
Rohitesh Dhawan
Gonzalo Muñoz, UNFCCC High Level Climate Action Champion also highlighted the need for member companies to gravitate towards setting scope 3 GHG emissions reduction targets by year-end 2023.
“I strongly encourage companies to set scope 3 GHG emissions reduction targets by the end of 2023. The High-Level Climate Action Champions encourage members to strive to set the most ambitious science-based targets possible in line with the criteria of the Race to Zero campaign.”
Gonzalo Muñoz
Apart from the net zero scope 1, 2 and 3, the member companies agreed to apply robust technologies aligned with the Paris Agreement as well as disclose openly and transparently the progress on each scope.
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