This ICMM initiative – chaired by outgoing CEO Nick Holland – focuses on developing a new generation of mining vehicles that support our industry’s mission towards zero harm and decarbonisation
Find out more about the renewable energy microgrid – one of the world’s largest – at our Granny Smith mine in Western Australia
Strategic priorities
Pursuing decarbonisation and building resilience to climate change in line with our commitment to the Paris Agreement
Full compliance with the 2020 Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management
Strategic intents
Continue pursuing carbon emissions reductions at all our operations
Increase Group renewable energy use and include at least 20% renewables in all new projects
Introduce electric vehicles in our underground operations
Reduce freshwater use and optimise Group water recycling and reuse levels
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Safety Safety and health of our employees, including occupational illnesses |
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Energy Security of power supply and cost of energy |
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Climate change Failure to implement climate change adaptation measures |
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Water Water pollution, security and reduction in freshwater consumption |
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Ezulwini and Cooke 3, 2 and 1 Ezulwini and Cooke 3, 2 and 1 rewatering impact on South Deep |
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Clean water and sanitation |
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Affordable and clean energy |
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Climate action |
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Life on land |
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Responsible consumption and production |
OVERVIEW AND HISTORYGold Fields is committed to responsible environmental stewardship. The conservative use of water and energy resources by our mines is not only critical for them to remain effective, but also to limit the impact of our usage on the surrounding communities and environment. To facilitate this, Gold Fields strictly adheres to all local legislation and regulations, and is guided by a number of leading external standards. We have developed several Group environment-related policies – relating to environmental stewardship, climate change, materials and supply chain stewardship, water stewardship and tailings management – as well as a range of related guidelines.
Water is a key focus area of our environmental strategy. Not only is it becoming an increasingly scarce and expensive resource globally, but we also draw water from the same catchment areas as our local communities. In countries like Peru and Chile, for example, water management has become a key source of friction and conflict between mines and their host communities.
A reliable and cost-efficient supply of energy is equally critical to our operations. Apart from labour, energy is the biggest operational cost at our mines. It is therefore critical that we use energy efficiently, as it is also a significant contributor to our carbon footprint in the form of Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The negative physical impacts of climate change are real and immediate, due to:
As such, Gold Fields' climate change programme specifically focuses on energy management programmes to reduce emissions and energy costs, including the use of renewable energies and increasing the reuse and recycling of water. We integrate assessment of climate-related risks and opportunities in project studies, as well as operational and strategic planning.
CO2 INTENSITY
ENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENTS
