Climate Action as a Strategic Imperative
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, and the mining industry has both a responsibility and an opportunity to be part of the solution. Teck Resources has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, with an interim target of reducing emissions intensity by 33 percent by 2030. This is not an aspirational vision statement β it is a detailed, science-based roadmap backed by capital investment, technological innovation, and rigorous accountability.
Our climate strategy recognises a fundamental truth: the metals required for the energy transition β copper, zinc, and specialty metals β must themselves be produced with an ever-shrinking carbon footprint. Customers, investors, and regulators increasingly demand that the mining sector decarbonise its own operations even as it supplies the raw materials for a low-carbon world.
Understanding Our Carbon Footprint
Teck's greenhouse-gas emissions are generated across three scopes. Scope 1 emissions arise directly from our operations, primarily from diesel-powered haul trucks and mining equipment, natural gas used in smelting and refining, and fugitive emissions from blasting and material handling. Scope 2 emissions come from purchased electricity, which varies significantly depending on the regional grid mix. Scope 3 emissions encompass the broader value chain, including transportation of concentrates, downstream processing by customers, and supply-chain activities.
Our initial focus is on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, where we have the greatest operational control. We are simultaneously working with suppliers and customers to address Scope 3 emissions through collaborative decarbonisation initiatives.
- Scope 1 reduction β Electrification of mine haul fleets, transition from diesel to battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, and process optimisation at smelting operations.
- Scope 2 reduction β Procurement of renewable energy through long-term power purchase agreements, on-site solar installations, and advocacy for grid decarbonisation in operating jurisdictions.
- Scope 3 engagement β Collaboration with shipping partners, concentrate buyers, and equipment manufacturers to develop lower-carbon alternatives across the value chain.
Fleet Electrification: The Biggest Lever
Diesel-powered haul trucks are the single largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions at most open-pit mining operations. At Highland Valley Copper alone, the fleet of ultra-class haul trucks consumes tens of millions of litres of diesel fuel annually. Replacing these vehicles with battery-electric or trolley-assist alternatives represents the most significant decarbonisation opportunity available to Teck.
We are actively piloting battery-electric haul trucks at Highland Valley Copper in partnership with leading equipment manufacturers. Early results are promising, with electric trucks demonstrating comparable productivity to their diesel counterparts while eliminating tailpipe emissions entirely. We expect to begin scaling electric fleet deployment across our operations by the late 2020s, with a target of fully electrified haulage fleets by the early 2040s.
Renewable Energy and Grid Partnerships
Teck benefits from operating in jurisdictions with relatively clean electricity grids. British Columbia's power system is more than 95 percent renewable, primarily hydroelectric, giving our Trail Operations and Highland Valley Copper a significant advantage in Scope 2 emissions. In Chile, where the grid has historically been more carbon-intensive, Teck has secured long-term renewable energy contracts for the Quebrada Blanca operation, sourcing solar and wind power to meet a growing share of the mine's electricity demand.
We are also exploring on-site renewable generation, including solar arrays at our Chilean operations and small-scale wind installations at remote sites. These distributed energy assets not only reduce emissions but also improve energy resilience and reduce exposure to volatile fossil-fuel prices.
Carbon Capture and Process Innovation
For certain industrial processes β particularly zinc and lead smelting at Trail Operations β electrification alone cannot eliminate all emissions. Teck is investing in research and development of carbon-capture, utilisation, and storage technologies that could capture residual process emissions and either sequester them permanently or convert them into useful products.
Our proprietary CESL hydrometallurgical technology offers an alternative pathway for processing copper concentrates that avoids the high-temperature smelting stage entirely, potentially reducing both energy consumption and emissions per tonne of metal produced. As CESL technology matures, it could play a significant role in decarbonising copper production across the industry.
Accountability and Transparency
Teck reports its climate performance annually in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures recommendations and the CDP climate change questionnaire. We have received consistently strong ratings from ESG rating agencies for our climate governance, strategy, and risk management practices. Our Board of Directors reviews climate targets and performance quarterly, ensuring that decarbonisation remains a top strategic priority at the highest level of the organisation.
The road to net-zero is long and complex, but Teck Resources is committed to travelling it with urgency, transparency, and determination. The metals we produce are essential for the energy transition β and we owe it to the planet and future generations to produce them as cleanly as possible.