Country profile – Australia

The document outlines Australia's position as a major global mining hub, specifically highlighting its dominance in iron ore and its growing role in critical minerals like lithium. It details the sector's significant contribution to national GDP and government revenue, while noting the industry's heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy. The report also examines the social dimensions of the workforce, including gender disparities, and the regulatory environment, particularly in Western Australia.

• Australia possesses substantial mineral reserves as of 2024, most notably 58 billion metric tonnes of iron ore, 102 million metric tonnes of copper, and 7.05 million metric tonnes of lithium.
• The mining sector is a primary driver of the Australian economy, contributing 12% of GDP in 2024, with iron ore and coal together generating over two-thirds of the sector's revenue.
• Australia's mining exports are heavily dominated by iron ore, with China serving as a primary trade partner; conversely, mining imports are described as having a 'relatively minuscule value'.
• The Australian mining sector's energy consumption is approximately 500 PJ annually, representing 10% of the nation's total energy use, and relies predominantly on oil (36.5%), coal products (25.7%), and natural gas (25.7%).
• Mining-related greenhouse gas emissions increased by 71% between 2000 and 2019, rising from 59 million mt CO2e to 100 million mt CO2e.
• As of February 2026, the mining workforce (excluding oil and gas) totaled 290,400 people, with women representing 20% of the employees, which is double the global average of 10%.
• The Australian government encourages domestic processing of critical minerals through a 10% refundable tax offset for companies that refine these materials within the country, rather than implementing export taxes on raw materials.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2026). Country profile – Australia. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-04/country-profile-australia.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Country profile – Australia. 2026. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-04/country-profile-australia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Country profile – Australia |date=2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-04/country-profile-australia.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2026country, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Country profile – Australia}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-04/country-profile-australia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }