Abstract
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has developed guidance on climate change adaptation for the mining sector. The guidance describes a process that can be used to consider climate related risks and opportunities and incorporate climate change adaptation into decision-making:
- Stage 1: Establish baseline climate conditions and project future climate conditions for the site. Identify infrastructure and operations vulnerable to climate change and assess risks.
- Stage 2: Identify potential adaption measures and develop potential adaptation pathways that describe options to address the risks or opportunities. Apply decision analysis tools to inform selection of the preferred adaptation pathway.
- Stage 3: Design and implement the selected adaptation pathways, conduct surveillance, and implement adaptive management.
The guidance is applicable to the site and corporate level, at any phase of the life cycle. The process is intended to be iterative, with vulnerabilities reconsidered, risks re-assessed, and adaptation pathways re-evaluated periodically. The process is designed to be integrated into existing risk assessment and risk management practices, so that risks associated with climate change can be considered as part of the broader matrix of risks.
By implementing this guidance, Owners can integrate climate change considerations in their short, medium, and long-term plans, demonstrate to regulators, investors, insurers and communities the climate change is being considered, and steps that the Owner is taking to manage climate change risks.