One of Australia's most influential lobby groups have been put on notice over climate change, with mining giant BHP setting standards that require them to advocate for Paris agreement-aligned emissions reductions and stop backing energy policies that favour fossil fuels over renewables.
BHP, the world's biggest mining company, updated its website on Friday with details of its new climate-related expectations of its industry lobbyists – including the Minerals Council of Australia, the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association – which have faced shareholder criticism for public-policy positions surrounding fossil fuels.
BHP has been facing a big investor backlash over the climate positions of its lobby groups.
Among the miner's expectations are advocacy for targets that increase over time and aim towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as well as policies to support that transition including a price on carbon.
The new standards also say the associations must ensure their lobbying is balanced – prohibiting them from emphasising the cost of climate action without considering the cost of inaction – and ensure their lobbying does not attack or promote one energy source or commodity over another, such as advocating for coal or against renewable energy.
Lobbying that could "unduly exacerbate" policy tensions, such as support for the federal government's use of Kyoto carryover credits to meet national emissions goals, must also be avoided.
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