“The strong ESG standards to which the WA resources sector operates is not reflected in global prices, creating an unfair playing field.”
Chamber of Minerals and Energy CEO, Rebecca Tomkinson
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME) has responded positively to today’s joint announcement by Canada and Australia on critical minerals, noting the potential of such partnerships for strengthening the move towards a sustainable global energy transition.
CME Chief Executive, Rebecca Tomkinson, said the cooperative approach between the two countries was important to ensure a cleaner energy future was achieved with responsibly-sourced commodities.
“The Australian Government has an opportunity to work with our trading partners to support the development of price and ESG transparency in critical and battery minerals markets, and this agreement is a positive sign,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“The strong ESG standards to which the WA resources sector operates is not reflected in global prices, creating an unfair playing field.
“We need to ensure that those who are purchasing our commodities understand the value of our environmental, social and governance standards, and that due diligence obviously comes with an associated cost.
“Supply chain diversity, security and transparency are not new issues but in the context of the global energy transition, they become significant for how the industry continues to operate in a sustainable way.”
Ms Tomkinson added that regardless of WA and Australia’s high standards, the industry needed to be competitive in international markets, with government intervention needed to reduce bureaucratic red tape, attract investment and keep operating costs to a minimum.
“WA has the resources, operational stability and ESG credentials to deliver what the world needs for its energy future but like any business, we need to be agile and competitive, and the state and federal governments have a role to play in that.”
