Invest
Mining boom’s economic win hampered by fossil fuel crown
Australia’s economy is being driven largely by a mini mining boom, despite renewed concerns around the impact mining has on the environment.
Mining boom’s economic win hampered by fossil fuel crown
Australia’s economy is being driven largely by a mini mining boom, despite renewed concerns around the impact mining has on the environment.
KMPG’s Commodity mini boom fuelling growth into 2020 report said that the Australian mining industry has delivered $285 billion in economic benefits nationally, with the price of iron ore alone expected to comprise $79 billion of this value.
KPMG’s global head of mining, Trevor Hart, has noted a combination of cost and volume as driving Australia’s resource sector boom.
“This is not just a story about higher prices on larger production volumes,” he began.
“It is accompanied by increasing investment in mining projects in Australia, together with global expansion in exploration activity,” Mr Hart continued.
Economy v environment
While past success has been measured against key mine safety, profitability and shareholder returns, KPMG noted future measures of prominence will centre around the reduction of carbon emissions, as well as environmental protection and community contribution.
Mr Hart noted that as ESG becomes increasingly complex, “miners of all sizes must have a clear strategy, with measures that identify success”.
“Going forward, these measures will be attached to executive remuneration and reported,” he predicted.
The environment case
The KPMG report came as think tank The Australia Institute labelled Australia as the third-largest fossil fuel exporter in terms of global emissions.
In absolute terms, Australia is the world’s fifth-largest miner of fossil fuels ranking behind China, USA, Russia and Saudi Arabia, but on a per capita basis, Australia is on par with Saudi Arabia, it reported.
The Australia Institute’s climate and energy program director, Richie Merzian, has highlighted that Australia’s large mining operations means its impact is higher than the 1.2 per cent of global emissions reported.
For every Australian, the country mines 57 tonnes of fossil fuel CO2 per year, with the Australia Institute noting this as 10 times greater than the world average.
“Many argue Australia’s emissions are small on a global scale, but this research shows the complete opposite: our domestic emissions are large and our exported emissions are even larger,” Mr Merzian explained.
Mr Merzian considered that Australia has a unique opportunity to address climate concerns by moving away from carbon exports.
“Beyond the economic and national security self-interest in replacing Australia fossil fuel exports with alternatives, Australia has a profound global obligation to reduce emissions,” he continued.
RELATED ARTICLES
About the author
About the author
Stock market
Portfolio reviews as an operating discipline: turning volatility into a competitive edge
In a higher-rate, higher-volatility world, portfolio reviews are no longer an annual hygiene task; they’re a core operating rhythm that protects cash flow, unlocks tax alpha, and sharpens risk ...Read more
Stock market
Fee war on the ASX: Global X’s A300 turns up the heat on core Aussie equity ETFs
Global X has lobbed a 0.04% management fee into Australia’s core equity sandbox, launching the Australia 300 ETF (A300) to take on entrenched giants. Read more
Stock market
Challenger IM shakes up the ASX with private credit note and a side of risk
Challenger Investment Management has taken private credit mainstream with an ASX-listed note structure—LiFTs—that secured roughly $100 million in cornerstone commitments within a day of launch. Read more
Stock market
International stocks: Diversifying your portfolio beyond Australia
In an increasingly globalized market, Australian investors have the opportunity to enhance their investment portfolio by incorporating international stocks. Diversifying your investments globally can ...Read more
Stock market
Stock market rally likely to continue regardless of Fed minutes tone, says deVere CEO
The bull run that has propelled Wall Street's major indexes to record highs this month is expected to continue regardless of the tone of the upcoming Federal Reserve minutes, according to Nigel Green, ...Read more
Stock market
US stock rally driven more by valuation growth than earnings, leaving tech names vulnerable: Innova
The strong gains in US stocks over the past year, particularly in the technology sector, have been driven more by expanding valuations than underlying earnings growth, leaving them exposed to a ...Read more
Stock market
Sun Silver to make its ASX debut with a $13 million IPO
Sun Silver Limited (proposed ASX Code: "SS1") has announced the opening of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) today, aiming to raise a minimum of $10 million and a maximum of $13 million (before costs)Read more
Stock market
Nasdaq hits record high, underscores the value of tech in investment portfolios
The Nasdaq Composite's surge to an all-time high last Friday highlights the importance of incorporating technology into investment strategies. Read more
Stock market
Portfolio reviews as an operating discipline: turning volatility into a competitive edge
In a higher-rate, higher-volatility world, portfolio reviews are no longer an annual hygiene task; they’re a core operating rhythm that protects cash flow, unlocks tax alpha, and sharpens risk ...Read more
Stock market
Fee war on the ASX: Global X’s A300 turns up the heat on core Aussie equity ETFs
Global X has lobbed a 0.04% management fee into Australia’s core equity sandbox, launching the Australia 300 ETF (A300) to take on entrenched giants. Read more
Stock market
Challenger IM shakes up the ASX with private credit note and a side of risk
Challenger Investment Management has taken private credit mainstream with an ASX-listed note structure—LiFTs—that secured roughly $100 million in cornerstone commitments within a day of launch. Read more
Stock market
International stocks: Diversifying your portfolio beyond Australia
In an increasingly globalized market, Australian investors have the opportunity to enhance their investment portfolio by incorporating international stocks. Diversifying your investments globally can ...Read more
Stock market
Stock market rally likely to continue regardless of Fed minutes tone, says deVere CEO
The bull run that has propelled Wall Street's major indexes to record highs this month is expected to continue regardless of the tone of the upcoming Federal Reserve minutes, according to Nigel Green, ...Read more
Stock market
US stock rally driven more by valuation growth than earnings, leaving tech names vulnerable: Innova
The strong gains in US stocks over the past year, particularly in the technology sector, have been driven more by expanding valuations than underlying earnings growth, leaving them exposed to a ...Read more
Stock market
Sun Silver to make its ASX debut with a $13 million IPO
Sun Silver Limited (proposed ASX Code: "SS1") has announced the opening of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) today, aiming to raise a minimum of $10 million and a maximum of $13 million (before costs)Read more
Stock market
Nasdaq hits record high, underscores the value of tech in investment portfolios
The Nasdaq Composite's surge to an all-time high last Friday highlights the importance of incorporating technology into investment strategies. Read more
