Fortescue endorses IPCC ‘final’ climate warnings

Metals and energy industries manufacturer Fortescue has come out in full support of the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.

Earlier this week the world’s climate scientists issued what is seen as a “final warning” before global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The IPCC said it was “unequivocal” that climate is changing as a result of human activity, and called for the phasing out of coal by 2030.

According to a statement: “Fortescue and its immediately associated companies, strongly endorse that humanity has everything it needs – the finance, the green technologies – to avoid the worst of climate warming.

“Provided all other industrial companies adopt the same urgency as we have, global warming can be limited to 1.5 degrees C. To assist countries and companies across the world to meet this threat, Fortescue will make available its technology, processes, equipment, green technology and green hydrogen generation capacity to all companies and countries.”

Fortescue has pioneered decarbonisation through a decarbonisation roadmap, and said it was moving quickly to eliminate the use of fossil fuels and achieve real zero emissions (Scope 1 and 2) across its terrestrial operations by 2030.

“We aim to demonstrate that heavy industry can decarbonise, profitably.

“Green hydrogen, green ammonia and green electrons will play a key role in not only decarbonising our iron ore operations, but also parts of the global economy including aviation, shipping, industry and farming. Widespread electrification, powered by renewable electricity, is also critical.”

Fortescue Founder and Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest said any country or company that either ignores or worse, issues supporting statements and does nothing, must be held responsible for the impending existential threat.

Forrest said: “Those executive and political leaders who do not exercise their imagination and innovative skills to move away from fossil fuels within an acceptable timetable, must feel the shame of their selfish short-sightedness.

“Further, these executives and politicians are not enriching the standard of delivery to their stakeholders by clinging to fossil fuels, rather they will impoverish them.

“This is essentially the last IPCC report we have while it is still possible to avoid 1.5°C warming. By the time the next report comes out, we will either have achieved what needs to be achieved, or we are treading down the pathway of an unliveable planet.”

Picture: Andrew Forrest