Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
The starting point for considering the Sustainable Development Goals is the "Agenda for Sustainable Development - 2030" adopted by the United Nations in 2015. Among the 17 identified Sustainable Development Goals, 6 goals directly related to the mining industry emerged.
However, KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. pursues many more objectives than those considered typical for the industry in which it operates.
Activities of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
KGHM pursues far more of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) presented in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the UN in 2015 than just those considered typical for companies in its sector. The goals pursued by KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. are presented in the following diagram:
UN sustainable development goals for the years 2015-2030 pursued by KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.
The positive aspects of KGHM’s operations drive economic growth in the region, through ensuring good jobs and development of cooperating companies, increasing the well-being of its communities (SDG 8), efforts to broaden access to health care (SDG 3), decent work and education (SDG4), development of employees, benefits and training. KGHM addresses its activities to employees and their families, but it also cares for all residents of the region, contributing to the equality of opportunities in many aspects of life (SDG 10, 11).
As part of its efforts to protect human rights, the Company has undertaken to draw up a Human Rights Protection Policy, which is the next step after KGHM’s Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights (SDG 10, 5). Because of the broad international scope of its operations, cultural differences and the specific nature of the industries in which it operates, the Group has long conducted a variety of human rights protection activities, such as: counteracting discrimination, not using forced labour (including child labour and slavery), respecting women’s rights and equal pay principles, caring for the natural environment and conducting its activities with respect for the rights of the First Nations – in accordance with the applicable normative acts. Work is currently pending to ensure consistency and comprehensiveness of these activities.
Other objectives pursued by the Company include responsible consumption and innovative production (SDG 12). KGHM is striving to ensure that the entire core production line is optimized, safe, innovative and sustainable, seeking methods for its continuous improvement, also through innovation, research and development activities (SDG 9). The Company is trying to focus its activities also on: efficient resource management (while striving to eliminate waste in accordance with the Circular Economy idea), reclamation of land and maintenance of biodiversity in post-mining areas (SDG 15).
The activities undertaken by KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. reflect the sustainable value chain, as presented in the chart below:
KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.’s sustainable value chain
On 16 November 2021, the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. adopted a resolution approving for application the “KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Climate Policy”, a document setting out the Company’s greenhouse gas emission goals in the horizon of 2030 and 2050 and the scope and degree of changes required to achieve them. The scope and impact of the Climate Policy covers KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., which will then transfer its objectives to the subsidiaries. The overriding objective of the KGHM Climate Policy is for the Parent Entity of the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Group to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 with respect to Scope 1 GHG emissions – direct emissions related primarily with the Company’s production activity, and Scope 2 emissions – indirect emissions associated with the consumption of electricity and heat purchased on the market, while reducing them as much as possible. The intermediate goal is to achieve a 30% reduction in total Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030 as compared to the 2020 emissions. The reduction objectives for the entire KGHM Group will be announced publicly no later than in H1 2023. The Company will intensify its carbon reduction activities and launch new initiatives in this area; the newly adopted Climate Policy will be used to structure them. The KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Climate Policy will support directly the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals in the following areas:
- SDG 7 – to ensure access to stable, sustainable and modern energy for everyone at an affordable price,
- SDG 12 – to provide sustainable patterns of consumption and production,
- SDG 13 – to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
The new KGHM Strategy to the year 2030 also identifies climate objectives associated with the reduction of emissions by KGHM, which are consistent with those named in the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A Climate Policy, a document complementary to the Strategy, and consistent with the climate objectives for 2030 and 2050.