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May 27, 2026
Analyzed by Llama- 4 Scout 17B 16E Instruct

BHP Backtracks on Climate Action with Key Projects Put on Ice

AI Summary
Leaked documents reveal that BHP, the world's biggest miner, has halted or delayed projects to cut vast amounts of emissions, including a 50-megawatt solar farm and a huge system of almost 500MW solar, wind and battery.

The Shift in BHP's Climate Strategy

BHP, the world's largest miner, has been a significant player in the global mining industry. However, recent internal documents leaked to the Guardian and the ABC's Four Corners program have revealed that the company is backtracking on its climate action plans.

The Leaked Documents

The leaked documents, dubbed the BHP files, show that the company has halted or delayed several key projects aimed at reducing emissions. These projects include:

  • A 50-megawatt solar farm and 20MW battery at its Jimblebar mine, which was effectively shelved soon after being approved and funded by the board in mid-2023.
  • A huge system of almost 500MW solar, wind and battery that could power a small city, which has been significantly delayed and will not progress in its current form until 2031 at the earliest.
  • An iron ore processing plant that could have prevented 1.7m tonnes of emissions a year, which was dumped despite being described as 'well-aligned' with its climate transition action plan.

The Impact on Climate Goals

BHP's decision to backtrack on its climate action plans has raised concerns among experts and environmental groups. The company's failure to urgently decarbonize could put national climate targets, including a 43% cut below 2005 levels by 2030, in doubt.

The Future Outlook

BHP has stated that it is still focused on its emissions reductions goals and has reduced emissions by 36% on 2020 levels. However, experts argue that the company's actions are not in line with its public commitments, and it needs to take more drastic measures to achieve its climate goals.