The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles. Anglo American joined the Global Compact in 2004, signalling our commitment to human rights, environmental stewardship, labour rights and anti-corruption.
The Anglo American environmental vision is to minimise harm to the environment by designing, operating and closing all of our operations in an environmentally responsible manner. We support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies within the Company.
Principle 7: Support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.
Anglo American’s precautionary approach to environmental issues is embedded in the Anglo American Environment Way’s Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (S&EIA) Standard and are inherent in the seven other performance standards that constitute the suite of Environment Way Performance Standards. The purpose of the S&EIA standard is to ensure that all Anglo American projects proactively consider social and environmental matters in their planning and decision-making. The other Performance Standards relate to water, air quality, mine closure, biodiversity, rehabilitation, mineral residue, non-mineral waste and hazardous substances.
Principle 8: Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.
Anglo American’s commitment to environmental responsibility is stated in the Group’s overarching Good Citizenship Business Principles. To encourage a uniform approach to environmental management across the Group, a corporate environmental policy, an environmental management framework, and specified mandatory environmental performance standards have been set. These are all included in the Environment Way. The Anglo American supply chain sustainable development code sets out environmental performance requirements of suppliers and contractors who work with Anglo American.
More information on our initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility is available in the Anglo American Sustainable Development Report 2010, pages 46-61, or by following the links alongside.
Principle 9: Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
The development and diffusion of environmentally-friendly technologies is built into our commitment to minimise harm to the environment by designing, operating and closing all of our operations in an environmentally responsible manner.
New technology is particularly important in our approach to climate change, which is underpinned by a number of strategic interventions. These include a focus on energy efficiency, carbon-reducing ‘synergy projects’, low-carbon technologies and adaptation to climate change. Fundamental to each of these is innovation and the development and employment of cutting-edge technologies. Notable examples include research into clean-coal technologies and carbon sequestration. The development and implementation of new technologies and novel processes are also critical success factors for the effective management of water and waste, as well as mine closure, biodiversity and rehabilitation.