With mining being Australia’s largest export industry — contributing $2.4t in resources export revenue over the past decade — it also accounts for a significant portion of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
For the year ending December 2023, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water reported 432.9mt of carbon dioxide emissions.
Energy production is the largest contributor to Australia’s carbon emissions, with the burning of fossil fuels contributing 32.6% of the total emissions in 2023.
Australia, along with all countries which signed the Paris Agreement, has committed to the global goal of ‘holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels’ and pursue efforts ‘to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels’.
To keep global warming to no more than 1.5C, emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
In an effort to decarbonise the country’s mining industry and meet the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement, mining companies have chosen to adopt new technologies, enhance energy efficiency and transition to renewable energy sources.
The Australian Mining Review spoke with founder and president of Women in Mining & Engineering WA Catherine Lalut about how the mining industry can be decarbonised and the progress made so far.
“Decarbonising the mining industry is critically important for several reasons,” Ms Lalut said.
