A Bold Commitment to Climate Leadership
Climate change represents the defining challenge of our era, and the mining industry has both a significant responsibility and a unique opportunity to lead the global response. Anglo American has set an ambitious target: to achieve carbon neutral operations across our entire portfolio by 2040 β a full decade ahead of many industry peers. This commitment is not aspirational rhetoric; it is underpinned by a detailed, science-based roadmap with measurable interim milestones and transparent reporting.
Our climate strategy is aligned with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5Β°C and is informed by rigorous scenario analysis conducted in partnership with leading climate scientists and policy experts. We recognise that as a producer of the metals and minerals essential to the energy transition, we have a dual imperative: to reduce our own emissions while enabling the decarbonisation of the broader economy through the products we supply.
Our Emissions Reduction Pathway
Anglo American's carbon neutrality roadmap encompasses all three scopes of greenhouse gas emissions, with clear targets for each:
Scope 1 and 2 Emissions
Our direct operational emissions (Scope 1) and purchased energy emissions (Scope 2) are the areas where we have the greatest control and where our most immediate actions are focused:
- 30% absolute reduction by 2030: Against a 2016 baseline, we are targeting a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions through operational efficiency improvements, fuel switching, and renewable energy procurement.
- 100% renewable electricity by 2030: We are transitioning our entire global electricity supply to renewable sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. In South Africa, our 600MW renewable energy ecosystem is one of the largest private sector renewable procurement programmes on the African continent.
- Diesel elimination: Our hydrogen-powered ultra-class mine haul truck programme, developed in partnership with First Mode, is designed to eliminate diesel from our surface mining fleet β the single largest source of our direct emissions.
- Methane capture and utilisation: At our metallurgical coal operations, we are capturing fugitive methane emissions and converting them to useful energy, reducing both emissions and operational costs.
Scope 3 Emissions
Scope 3 emissions β those generated by the use of our products by customers β represent the largest portion of our total carbon footprint. Addressing these emissions requires collaboration across the entire value chain:
- Product portfolio reshaping: Our strategic portfolio realignment towards future-enabling commodities such as copper, nickel, and crop nutrients reduces our exposure to carbon-intensive products while increasing our contribution to the energy transition.
- Customer partnerships: We are working with our major customers to develop low-carbon product specifications and shared decarbonisation pathways.
- Carbon offsetting: For residual emissions that cannot be eliminated through technological solutions, we are investing in high-quality, verified nature-based carbon offset projects in our host countries.
Innovation Driving Decarbonisation
Technology and innovation are the engines of our climate strategy. Through our FutureSmart Miningβ’ programme, we are developing and deploying a range of breakthrough technologies that fundamentally reduce the carbon intensity of mining:
- Green hydrogen: Our nuGenβ’ hydrogen haul truck project is the world's largest hydrogen-powered mining vehicle, capable of carrying 290 tonnes of payload with zero carbon emissions. This technology has the potential to eliminate over 80% of diesel emissions from our surface mining fleet.
- Coarse particle recovery: By processing ore at a coarser grind, we reduce energy consumption by up to 50%, directly lowering emissions associated with mineral processing.
- Electrification: We are systematically electrifying our underground mining equipment, replacing diesel-powered vehicles with battery electric alternatives that produce zero direct emissions and improve air quality for our underground workforce.
Transparent Reporting and Accountability
Anglo American is committed to transparent, standardised climate disclosure. We report in accordance with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework and have submitted our near-term emission reduction targets for validation by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Our annual Climate Change Report provides detailed performance data, progress against targets, and forward-looking analysis that enables stakeholders to hold us accountable.
Our Board-level Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committee provides governance oversight of our climate strategy, ensuring that climate considerations are integrated into strategic planning, capital allocation, and risk management at the highest level of the organisation.
Building a Low-Carbon Mining Legacy
Achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 will require sustained investment, technological innovation, and deep collaboration with governments, communities, and industry partners. Anglo American is committed to this journey because we believe that responsible mining is essential to building a sustainable future. The metals and minerals we produce will power the clean energy systems, electric vehicles, and sustainable infrastructure that the world needs β and we are determined to produce them in a way that protects the planet for generations to come.