We have expanded the list of climate policies we assess company engagement with to incorporate land-use related policy, referring to legislative or regulatory measures to enhance and protect ecosystems and land where carbon is being stored. Assessments under this category are currently underweighted in terms of their contribution to the overall company metrics. This weighting will be progressively increased over the next 6 months.
We adjusted the terminology used to describe the queries running down the left-hand side of our scoring matrix and added additional explanatory text to the info-boxes. This has no impact on the scores and methodology. It has been done following user feedback to improve clarity.
Climate Lobbying Overview: The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) appears to have a mixed position on climate change. MAC has expressed top-line support for ambitious climate action and the energy transition, but continues to advocate for less ambitious policy measures in order to protect the competitiveness of the mining industry.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: In March 2020, MAC CEO Pierre Gratton appeared to support Canada’s net zero emissions reduction target. MAC has also expressed top-line support for the development of effective climate change policy in Canada in its 2019 Facts and Figures report. However, MAC has qualified this by emphasizing the need to address competitiveness and carbon leakage concerns. In a July 2019 response to the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan, MAC also stated that climate change policies “must ensure the competitiveness of emissions-intensive and trade-exposed (EITE) sectors. Evidence suggests that MAC favors a market-based response to climate change, advocating for the Canadian government to “make carbon pricing the core of its climate policy” in 2019. MAC does not appear to explicitly support the Paris Agreement in its public communications.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: MAC appears to have a mixed position on Canadian climate regulation, expressing top-line support for policies but also aiming to weaken their ambition. In January 2019, MAC CEO Pierre Gratton appeared to support a federal carbon tax in Canada, provided it includes protections for EITE industries. In its 2018 Annual Report, published in June 2019, MAC appeared to suggest it had successfully lobbied to weaken output-based pricing system (OBPS) in Canada. In December 2020, MAC appeared to support the weakening of the clean fuel standard under Canada’s Climate Plan to include liquid fuels only. In its 2019 Facts and Figures report, MAC also stated that it has successfully lobbied to weaken Canada’s federal emission standards for mining, including the separation of process emissions from the overall output-based standard.
Positioning on Energy Transition: MAC’s engagement on the energy mix appears to be mixed. In 2020, MAC has expressed top-line support for a transition towards a low-carbon economy under Canada’s Climate Plan. In a March 2022 Globe and Mail report, MAC President and CEO Pierre Gratton appeared to support Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund's net-zero accelerator, specifically appearing to support the inclusion of EV battery supply in the initiative. MAC also appears to support the electrification of mining processes, including the Liberal Party’s commitment to direct $5 billion to electrification in 2019. Additionally, at the 2019 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference, MAC advocated for measures to increase the exploration of minerals and metals necessary for a low carbon economy, as well as measures to accelerate the development and adoption of clean energy sources. Despite this, MAC continues to promote the development of new oil and gas infrastructure. In 2016, MAC engaged policymakers to support the approval of new pipelines for the Albertan Tar Sands industry and in 2019, has advocated for the construction of the Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline.