Rio Tinto plc, a leading global mining and metals company, is headquartered in London, GB. Founded in 1873, Rio Tinto has established itself as a key player in the mining industry, with significant operations across Australia, North America, and various regions in Africa and Asia. The company primarily focuses on the extraction and production of essential minerals, including aluminium, copper, diamonds, gold, and iron ore. Renowned for its commitment to sustainable practices, Rio Tinto has achieved numerous milestones, including advancements in technology and environmental stewardship. With a strong market position, the company is recognised for its innovative approach to resource extraction and its ability to deliver high-quality products that meet global demand. As a result, Rio Tinto continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the mining sector.
How does Rio Tinto plc's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Non-Ferrous Metal Mining industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Rio Tinto plc's score of 29 is higher than 62% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2022, Rio Tinto plc reported total carbon emissions of approximately 30,300,000,000 kg CO2e globally, comprising 22,800,000,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1 and 7,500,000,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 emissions. Notably, the company did not disclose any Scope 3 emissions data for this year. Regionally, emissions included about 12,600,000,000 kg CO2e from Australia (Scope 1: 12,600,000,000 kg CO2e; Scope 2: 5,600,000,000 kg CO2e), 4,000,000,000 kg CO2e from South Africa (Scope 1: 400,000,000 kg CO2e; Scope 2: 1,300,000,000 kg CO2e), 6,100,000,000 kg CO2e from Canada (Scope 1 only), and 1,000,000,000 kg CO2e from the United States (Scope 1 only). Despite the significant emissions, Rio Tinto has not set specific reduction targets or initiatives as part of their climate commitments, as indicated by the absence of documented reduction targets or SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) commitments. The company is classified as a current subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group, which may influence its climate strategy and reporting practices. Overall, Rio Tinto's emissions profile highlights the challenges faced by major mining companies in addressing climate change while maintaining operational efficiency.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 24,700 | 00,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 9,300 | 0,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | 000,000,000,000 | 000,000,000,000 | 000,000,000,000 |
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Rio Tinto plc has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.