Publication of 2nd Climate Action Transition Plan

Glencore PLC

20 March 2024

 

Glencore plc

20 March 2024

Baar, Switzerland

Publication of second Climate Action Transition Plan

Today, we release our second Climate Action Transition Plan (the 2024-2026 CATP). We continue to evolve our approach first published in 2020, introduce a new interim industrial emissions reduction target and lay out our plans for the next three years considering the risks and opportunities of our current combined energy and metals businesses.

Gary Nagle, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"Our 2024-2026 CATP reflects a wide range of inputs, including analysis of the evolving market landscape, new regulatory requirements, mining and energy peer approaches, the IEA's latest modelling, stakeholder inputs, and emerging insights from the most recent UNFCCC dialogue. We have also undertaken extensive engagement with our shareholders and appreciate their time and support as we have developed this CATP.

"Reflecting on these various inputs, this CATP retains our existing emissions reduction targets, of 15% and 50% by the end of 2026 and 2035 respectively and our 2050 ambition of achieving net zero industrial CO2e emissions, subject to a supportive policy environment. It also introduces a new interim target of a 25% reduction in CO2e emissions for our industrial assets by the end of 2030. We are on track to meet our 2026, 2030 and 2035 emissions reduction targets, all of which are measured against a restated 2019 baseline.

"Looking ahead, our plan focuses on the delivery of our commitments, including implementing our MACC initiatives (where practicable and economically viable) and responsibly phasing down our thermal coal operations, while also allocating capital to grow our transition-enabling commodities business, and evolving our understanding and assessment of the climate-related risks and opportunities that our business faces."

Our progress

We have maintained our previous industrial emissions reduction targets and ambition. Our transition plan reaffirms our existing targets against a restated 2019 baseline and adds a new interim target, leading towards a 2050 net zero emissions ambition, subject to a supportive policy environment:

-    2026: 15% reduction in our Scope 1, 2 and 3 industrial CO₂e emissions against a restated 2019 baseline by the end of 2026

-    2030: 25% reduction in our Scope 1, 2 and 3 industrial CO₂e emissions against a restated 2019 baseline by the end of 2030

-    2035: 50% reduction in our Scope 1, 2 and 3 industrial CO₂e emissions against a restated 2019 baseline by the end of 2035

Glencore's role in the climate transition

Glencore plays an important role in supporting the global transition to a low carbon economy. Across our business, we produce, distribute and recycle commodities that are key components of current transition technologies while supporting the energy needs of today.

The pace and pathway of decarbonisation are heavily influenced by many factors, from geopolitics to technological innovation. Our 2024-2026 CATP must therefore be resilient and flexible to cope with external economic and political factors, whilst sustaining our own climate targets and ambition. These external factors also highlight the need for global coordination and progressive and well-designed policies that are consistent with a just and orderly transition.

That is why continuous dialogue and engagement with stakeholders is an important part of how we develop our plans. The 2024-2026 CATP reflects a wide range of inputs, from stakeholder engagement to the IEA's latest modelling to analysing peer approaches.

Our strategic pillars

The 2024-2026 CATP is comprised of four strategic pillars:

1.   Managing our operational footprint: We continue to identify and deliver cost-effective emissions reduction opportunities for our Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Whilst our Scope 1 and 2 industrial emissions reflect a small proportion of our overall emissions footprint, these factors are within our control and we are developing solutions to address them, such as electrification and alternative fuel, as well as strengthening our own monitoring capabilities.

2.   Responsibly reducing our Scope 3 industrial emissions: We remain committed to the responsible phase-down of our coal portfolio. We recognise the different roles of thermal coal and steelmaking coal - and the different transition pathways for both.

We reaffirm our approach to responsibly reduce our production of thermal coal in an orderly and just way. As part of this, we are not progressing any greenfield thermal coal investments. We expect a continued phase down of our thermal coal plants, reflecting our emissions reduction targets and in line with our Just Transition Principles. We will strive to mitigate impacts and accelerate the social benefit potential of any operational decisions on our local communities.

3.   Advancing tomorrow through our transition-enabling commodities portfolio:  The expected growth in clean energy and low-carbon technologies is leading to an increased need for 'transition' commodities and we are investing to meet an expected significant increase in demand for these.

4.   Driving new business models: We are positioning our business for the future through the pursuit of new business models that support the transition, such as recycling and carbon solutions.

Elk Valley Resources

We have agreed with Teck Resources Ltd to acquire a 77% interest in its steelmaking coal business, Elk Valley Resources (EVR), which remains subject to mandatory regulatory approvals and is expected to close by no later than Q3 2024.  

Steelmaking coal is an important transition-enabling commodity as it is an essential input into much of the world's steelmaking in its current form. Steel is necessary for constructing transportation and infrastructure such as ocean-going vessels, rail, bridges and buildings, as well as energy transition infrastructure including wind turbines.

As there was no certainty that any transaction would be agreed when we commenced work on this strategy, and because we do not yet have access to the necessary information relating to EVR, we have developed this strategy considering the risks and opportunities of our current portfolio of our integrated energy and metals business.

Our commitment to future reporting

We intend to submit our 2024-2026 CATP for an advisory vote at our 2024 AGM. We will continue to review our CATP every three years, or if there are material changes to our business, and seek advisory votes when our climate plans are renewed.

For further information please contact:

Investors
Martin Fewings	t: [phone]	m: [phone]	[e-mail]
Media
Charles Watenphul	t: [phone]	m: [phone]	[e-mail]

www.glencore.com

Glencore LEI: 2138002658CPO9NBH955

 

Note on 'our emissions' and other terminology

References to 'Glencore's emissions', 'our emissions' or 'industrial emissions' mean CO2e emissions from our industrial assets (including Scope 1, 2 and 3) which is defined by reference to our organisational boundary of operational control, as set out in the About our emissions calculations and reporting section in our latest Annual Report and our latest Basis of Reporting. Where 'industrial' is used before 'emissions', this is for additional clarity, and the underlying meaning is the same irrespective of whether this is included.

Throughout our 2024-2026 Climate Action Transition Plan (CATP), where we refer to our aim and/or efforts to achieve 'net zero emissions' we are referring to a net zero ambition in relation to our industrial emissions.

Reference is made to the Group Reporting Glossary available at glencore.com/publications for the 2023 reporting suite with respect to the terms used the 2024-2026 CATP.

Notes for Editors

Glencore is Glencore is one of the world's largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities that advance everyday life. Through a network of assets, customers and suppliers that spans the globe, we produce, process, recycle, source, market and distribute the commodities that support decarbonisation while meeting the energy needs of today. 

With over 150,000 employees and contractors and a strong footprint in over 35 countries in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, our marketing and industrial activities are supported by a global network of more than 50 offices. 

Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and oil sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities.

Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

We will support the global effort to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement through our efforts to decarbonise our own operational footprint. We believe that we should take a holistic approach and have considered our commitment through the lens of our global industrial emissions. Against a restated 2019 baseline, we are targeting to reduce our Scope 1, 2 and 3 industrial emissions by 15% by the end of 2026, 25% by the end of 2030, 50% by the end of 2035 and we have an ambition to achieve net zero industrial emissions by the end of 2050, subject to a supportive policy environment. For more information see our 2024-2026 Climate Action Transition Plan and the About our emissions calculation and reporting section in our 2023 Annual Report, available on our website at glencore.com/publications.

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Important Information

This document does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information

Certain descriptions in this document are oriented towards future events and therefore contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" which are prospective in nature. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements in respect of trends in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; demand for commodities; reserves and resources and production forecasts; expectations, plans, strategies and objectives of management; expectations regarding financial performance, results of operations and cash flows, climate scenarios; sustainability performance (including, without limitation, environmental, social and governance) related goals, ambitions, targets, intentions, visions, milestones and aspirations; approval of certain projects and consummation of certain transactions (including, without limitation, acquisitions and disposals, in particular the proposed acquisition of a majority stake of EVR from Teck Resources Limited and potential subsequent demerger of the combined coal and carbon steel materials business); closures or divestments of certain assets, operations or facilities (including, without limitation, associated costs); capital costs and scheduling; operating costs and supply of materials and skilled employees; financings; anticipated productive lives of projects, mines and facilities; provisions and contingent liabilities; and tax, legal and regulatory developments.

These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, or the negative thereof including, without limitation, "outlook", "guidance", "trend", "plans", "expects", "continues", "assumes", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "aims", "forecasts", "risks", "intends", "positioned", "predicts", "projects", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of such words or comparable terminology and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "shall", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. The information in this document provides an insight into how we currently intend to direct the management of our businesses and assets and to deploy our capital to help us implement our strategy. The matters disclosed in this document are a 'point in time' disclosure only. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current predictions, expectations, beliefs, opinions, plans, objectives, goals, intentions and projections about future events, results of operations, prospects, financial conditions and discussions of strategy, and reflect judgments, assumptions, estimates and other information available as at the date of this document or the date of the corresponding planning or scenario analysis process.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future event, results, performance, achievements or other outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could impact these uncertainties include (without limitation) those disclosed in the risk management section of our latest Annual Report and Half-Year Report (which can each be found on our website). These risks and uncertainties may materially affect the timing and feasibility of particular developments. Other factors which impact risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the ability to produce and transport products profitably; demand for our products and commodity prices; development, efficacy and adoption of new or competing technologies; changing or divergent preferences of our stakeholders; changes to the assumptions regarding the recoverable value of our tangible and intangible assets; changes in environmental scenarios and related regulations, including, without limitation, transition risks and the evolution and development of the global transition to a low carbon economy; recovery rates and other operational capabilities; timing, quantum and nature of certain acquisitions and divestments; health, safety, environmental or social performance incidents; labour shortages or workforce disruptions; natural catastrophes or adverse geological conditions, including, without limitation, the physical risks associated with climate change; effects of global pandemics and outbreaks of infectious disease; the outcome of litigation or enforcement or regulatory proceedings; the effect of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs; actions by governmental authorities, such as changes in taxation or regulation or changes in the decarbonisation policies and plans of other countries; changes in economic and financial market conditions generally or in various counties or regions; political or geopolitical uncertainty; and wars, political or civil unrest, acts of terrorism, cyber-attacks or sabotage.

Readers, including, without limitation, investors and prospective investors, should review and consider these risks and uncertainties (as well as the other risks identified in this document) when considering the information contained in this document. Readers should also note that the high degree of uncertainty around the nature, timing and magnitude of climate-related risks, and the uncertainty as to how the energy transition will evolve, makes it difficult to determine all potential risks and opportunities and disclose these and any potential impacts with precision. Neither Glencore nor any of its affiliates, associates, employees, directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, warranty, assurance or guarantee as to the accuracy, completeness or correctness, likelihood of achievement or reasonableness of any forward-looking information contained in this document or that the events, results, performance, achievements or other outcomes expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this document will actually occur. Glencore cautions readers against reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this document, particularly in light of the long-term time horizon which this document discusses in certain instances and the inherent uncertainty in possible policy, market and technological developments in the future.

No statement in this document is intended as any kind of forecast (including, without limitation, a profit forecast or a profit estimate), guarantee or prediction of future events or performance and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

Except as required by applicable regulations or by law, Glencore is not under any obligation, and Glencore and its affiliates expressly disclaim any intention, obligation or undertaking, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This document shall not, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the business or affairs of Glencore since the date of this document or that the information contained herein is correct as at any time subsequent to its date.

Cautionary statement regarding climate strategy

Glencore operates in a dynamic and uncertain market and external environment. Plans and strategies can and must adapt in response to dynamic market conditions, changing preference of our stakeholders, joint venture decisions, changing weather and climate patterns, new opportunities that might arise or other changing circumstances. Investors should assume that our climate strategy will evolve and be updated as time passes. Additionally, a number of aspects of our strategy involve developments or workstreams that are complex and may be delayed, more costly than anticipated or unsuccessful for many reasons, including, without limitation, reasons that are outside of Glencore's control. Our strategy will also necessarily be impacted by changes in our business, such as the proposed acquisition of EVR and potential demerger of the combined coal and carbon steel materials business.

There are inherent limitations to scenario analysis, and it is difficult to predict which, if any, of the scenarios might eventuate. Scenario analysis relies on assumptions that may or may not be, or prove to be, correct and that may or may not eventuate and scenarios may also be impacted by additional factors to the assumptions disclosed. Given these limitations we treat these scenarios as one of several inputs that we consider in our climate strategy.

Due to the inherent uncertainty and limitations in measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and operational energy consumption under the calculation methodologies used in the preparation of such data, all CO2e emissions and operational energy consumption data or volume references (including, without limitation, ratios and/or percentages) in this document are estimates. GHG emissions calculation and reporting methodologies may change or be progressively refined over time resulting in the need to restate previously reported data. There may also be differences in the manner that third parties calculate or report such data compared to Glencore, which means that third-party data may not be comparable to Glencore's data. For information on how we calculate our emissions and operational energy consumption data, see the About our emissions calculations and reporting section in our 2023 Annual Report and our 2023 Basis of Reporting, which are available on our website.

Sources

Certain statistical and other information included in this document is sourced from publicly available third-party sources. This information has not been independently verified and presents the view of those third parties and may not necessarily correspond to the views held by Glencore and Glencore expressly disclaims any responsibility for, or liability in respect of, and makes no representation or guarantee in relation to, such information (including, without limitation, as to its accuracy, completeness or whether it is current). Glencore cautions readers against reliance on any of the industry, market or other third-party data or information contained in this document.

Information preparation

In preparing this document, Glencore has made certain estimates and assumptions that may affect the information presented. Certain information is derived from management accounts, is unaudited and based on information Glencore has available to it at the time. Figures throughout this document are subject to rounding adjustments. The information presented is subject to change at any time without notice and we do not intend to update this information except as required.

Subject to any terms implied by law which cannot be excluded, Glencore accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense (whether direct or indirect) incurred by any person as a result of any error, omission or misrepresentation in information in this document.

Other information

The companies in which Glencore plc directly and indirectly has an interest are separate and distinct legal entities. In this document, "Glencore", "Glencore group" and "Group" are used for convenience only where references are made to Glencore plc and its subsidiaries in general. These collective expressions are used for ease of reference only and do not imply any other relationship between the companies. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer collectively to members of the Group or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

 

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