Over the past decade, we have implemented a range of climate adaptations to reduce physical risks. These measures include projects to improve water storage and treatment, spring runoff and flood mitigation strategies, as well as strategies to reduce freshwater consumption.
We have also worked closely with industry partners to support industry-wide standards for climate adaptation. This includes partnering with the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), which has been a leader in sharing best practices. ICMM supports improvement and makes learnings publicly available through reports. In addition, we work closely with the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) to develop standardized guidance for managing the physical impacts of climate change within the mining industry, which supports the updated climate change protocol under MAC’s Towards Sustainable Mining program.
This work has helped us develop tools to incorporate climate change into existing climate assessments and supported improved climate modelling and a more robust approach to climate-related risk identification and management.
For example, at our Highland Valley Copper Operation we have a spring runoff water management strategy to protect key infrastructure; we also completed climate change analyses to contribute to long-term adaptation plans for the mine. At our Fording River Operations we are advancing a flood mitigation project in response to erosion caused by high water levels. And at our operations in Chile, we have implemented projects to reduce our freshwater consumption in response to potential water availability constraints due to future climate conditions.
