Energy and Climate Change

 

Reducing the carbon footprint – towards carbon neutrality in the extraction of metals and minerals

 

Raw materials are indispensable enablers for carbon-neutral solutions in all sectors of the economy. Given the scale of fast-growing material demand, primary raw materials will continue to provide a large part of the demand. (A Clean Planet for All, European Commission, November 2018)

 

The mineral raw materials industry is an integral part of any economy and society. Standing at the beginning of most value chains, the sector is a critical supplier of essential materials and products and therefore generates added value and growth through employment, economic growth, development, innovation and generating trade. To continue economic growth and demographic change as a modern society, extraction of commodities will remain essential

 

In past years, the mineral raw materials industry has radically progressed in productivity and energy efficiency. Additionally, it continues to implement new solutions aiming at further reducing the energy consumption/unit and improving carbon-intensive operations. As the world shifts to a low-carbon future, mining companies explore methods of decarbonisation to efficiently and effectively fulfil the continued increasing demand for resources. Raw Materials will be critical to building a future sustainable society that will rely heavily on new transport infrastructure as well as new green buildings. Alternative energy production will require considerable amounts of raw materials. For example, the infrastructure of the energy sector requires the massive use of metals and minerals, in particular steel for ships, pipelines, mining equipment, power plants, refineries and exploration activities, copper for the electricity grid, generators and electric motors, and aluminium, primarily for the electricity grid, and a host of other metals and minerals including phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen for biomass production

 

European Green Deal

 

To overcome the climate change and environmental degradation challenges, Europe agreed on a new growth strategy that will transform it into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where:

 

As the recognized representative of the European metals and minerals mining industry covering more than 42 different metals and minerals and employing 350.000 directly and about four times as many indirectly, Euromines welcomes a European Green Deal to put Europe on the right track to a sustainable future and ensure that no one is left behind and is prepared to take all the necessary measures to make Europe the world's first climate neutral continent.

 

Emissions Trading System (phase IV: 2021-2030)

 

The EU ETS operates in 31 countries and covers 11.000 installations, which account for about 45% of the European emissions. The ETS is designed to reduce covered emissions in a cost-effective way by providing a price signal for carbon to the market.  The revised EU ETS Directive, which will apply for the period 2021-2030, will enable the reduction of GHG emissions through a mix of measures.