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BHP quietly shelved billions in green projects while pledging commitment to cutting emissions
A Four Corners investigation revealed BHP shelved billions of dollars of green projects while publicly promising commitment to emissions reduction. Internal documents show iron ore emissions cuts dropped from 22% to just 1% by 2030, and the company harbours major doubts about achieving net zero.
A major investigation by ABC's Four Corners has revealed that mining giant BHP quietly shelved billions of dollars worth of green projects while publicly maintaining it was committed to cutting emissions. Internal company documents paint a starkly different picture from the optimistic public statements made by the $300 billion mining company about its environmental commitments.
BHP's iron ore operations in Western Australia had originally planned to cut emissions by 22% by 2030. However, internal documents obtained by the investigation show that figure has been dramatically revised down to just 1%. The documents also reveal the company itself harbours significant doubts about achieving its long-term net zero goal, with one internal assessment noting that the purchase of a new fleet of diesel trucks is inconsistent with pathways to net zero.
Resources Minister Madeleine King defended BHP, saying the company is committed to cutting emissions and that commercial decisions about how to reach net zero are a matter for the company itself. Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said the government will review the safeguard mechanism this year, insisting that all large emitters must reduce on-site emissions.
Perhaps most significantly, the internal documents show BHP does not expect a material increase in carbon prices via the safeguard mechanism until 2040, meaning the company believes it will not face meaningful penalties for inaction for at least another decade. This finding raises serious questions about whether current government policy is sufficient to drive real emissions reductions in the mining sector.
Healthcare contributes up to 7% of Australia's carbon output, and New South Wales hospitals alone produce an average of 52,000 tonnes of waste annually, equivalent to the weight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. BHP responded to the investigation by stating it continues to focus on delivering on its operational emissions targets and long-term net zero goal, though the gap between public commitments and internal planning documents remains a matter of growing public scrutiny.