Today, the copper industry accounts for about 0.2 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, and demand for copper is expected to double by 2050—from 25 million tonnes in 2020 to 50 million tonnes—driven by critical decarbonization technologies, such as wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, electric vehicles and energy-efficient equipment.

That is why the International Copper Association (ICA) and its members have developed a roadmap for bringing the carbon footprint as close as possible to net zero by 2050 for copper mining, smelting, refining and recycling.

This Pathway defines a pragmatic approach to decarbonizing copper production. It outlines which decarbonization options can be activated by when, with what impact on greenhouse gas emissions and at what cost.

The Pathway demonstrates the commitment of ICA members to act on climate change, with copper producers already taking action to reduce their carbon footprint through initiatives such as equipment electrification, decarbonization of electricity, the use of alternative fuels and energy-efficiency measures. ICA members commit to deploying these and additional decarbonizing measures in a responsible and sustainable manner.