Miner embarks on bid to cut emissions in supply chains

It has joined industry heavyweights to forge pathways to a decarbonised future.

Protesters at the Global Strike 4 Climate rally, Melbourne, Friday, September 20, 2019. The Global Strike 4 Climate demands government and business to commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Picture: Alex Coppel

MINING giant BHP has joined some of Australia's biggest companies in supporting a new initiative that will involve them working together to better understand pathways to achieving net zero emissions in supply chains.

BHP, Woodside, BlueScope Steel, BP Australia, Orica, APA Group, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group and Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers - which together represent 14 per cent of Australian industrial emissions - have signed on to the Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative.

The initiative aims to prepare Australian industry for a decarbonised global economy, by harnessing industry knowledge to develop pathways and actions that can cut emissions across whole supply chains.

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National Australia Bank, Schneider Electric and AustralianSuper represent the broader system of investments, services, products and knowledge that will be key in supporting industry action towards net-zero supply chains.

Independent, not-for-profit bodies ClimateWorks Australia and Climate-KIC Australia are conveners of the Australian Industry ETI, in collaboration with the Energy Transitions Commission.

The initiative has been developed with the generous support of philanthropic donations, company contributions and funding from the Australian Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

It is supported by the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network, with research partners including CSIRO and the Rocky Mountain Institute.

The initiative will focus on opportunities across five supply chains which collectively contribute more than a quarter of Australia's annual greenhouse gas emissions and generate exports worth around $160 billion.

These include steel, aluminium, liquefied natural gas, other metals and chemicals.

The Australian Industry ETI is chaired by Simon McKeon AO, Chancellor of Monash University, former CSIRO chairman and former Australian of the Year.

He said collaboration, experimentation and shared knowledge made up the foundations of the initiative's work.

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"We know that we can find solutions more quickly, and start implementing them, if we're encouraging collaborative learning and knowledge sharing, especially when it comes to new technology," Mr McKeon said.

"This initiative provides a platform to generate knowledge and test action through on-the-ground projects that support industry to realise the opportunities of a decarbonising global economy."

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