Decarbonization of the Mining Sector

The report examines the paradox of the mining sector, which is essential for supplying critical minerals for energy transition technologies but is itself a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. It analyzes the sector's impact on NDCs, with a focus on coal mining and critical minerals, and provides case studies from Chile, Indonesia, and South Africa to highlight the challenges of achieving a just transition. The document concludes with policy recommendations for improving data quality, creating sector-specific mitigation packages, and fostering shared responsibility between producing and destination countries.

• The mining sector is a significant global emitter, estimated to generate between 1.9 and 5.1 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) annually, which represents 2% to 7% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Coal mining is the primary driver of emissions within the sector, with fugitive methane emissions from coal mines accounting for approximately 75% to 85% of all mining-related GHG emissions.
• The energy transition is driving an exponential increase in demand for critical minerals; for example, the production of graphite, lithium, and cobalt could increase by nearly 500% by 2050 to support clean energy technologies.
• Case studies of Chile, Indonesia, and South Africa reveal that NDCs generally lack mining-specific decarbonization targets, instead addressing emissions within broader energy transition goals.
• Decarbonization in the mining sector is hindered by significant data gaps, as many countries do not disaggregate GHG data to identify the specific contribution of the mining sector to national emissions.
• The transition away from coal poses severe socio-economic risks in dependent countries; in South Africa, the coal industry employed nearly 91,000 people in 2022, and job losses could trigger social unrest.
• Corporate GHG reporting in the mining sector lags behind other industries; only 36% of metals and mining companies in the Transition Pathway Initiative have long-term carbon emissions reduction targets, compared to 65% in other sectors.
• The report recommends a 'shared responsibility' model between producing and destination countries to ensure that the surge in mining for energy transition minerals does not compromise the climate ambitions of producer nations.

APA

Schaap, F., & Karamira, A. (2024). Decarbonization of the Mining Sector. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/igf-decarbonization-mining-sector.pdf

Chicago

Schaap, Famke, and Astrid Karamira. Decarbonization of the Mining Sector. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/igf-decarbonization-mining-sector.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schaap |first1=Famke |last2=Karamira |first2=Astrid |title=Decarbonization of the Mining Sector |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=July 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/igf-decarbonization-mining-sector.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schaap2024decarbonization, author = {Schaap, Famke and Karamira, Astrid}, title = {{Decarbonization of the Mining Sector}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/igf-decarbonization-mining-sector.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }