Sherritt’s products have an important role to play in the transition to a low-carbon future and circular economy. We implement a robust management system that is underpinned by global best practices and designed to ensure strict compliance with regulations and our operating licences. We continually seek ways to minimize the impacts of our operations on the environment.
Sherritt recognizes the critical role businesses have to play in addressing global climate-related challenges. For Sherritt, this means both actively implementing measurable steps towards our net zero target and bringing to market the materials and technologies needed for a decarbonized future and circular economy. Nickel and cobalt have been listed on the United States and Canada’s Critical Minerals lists. These countries recognize the importance of these materials in enabling the global transition to low-carbon economies. We support the international climate change goals outlined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, and recognize the important role we can play in the shift to a low-carbon economy. Accordingly, Sherritt has established a climate action plan with targets for reducing our carbon footprint, with the ultimate goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Our approach is informed by four guiding principles:
Sherritt has established interim aspirational targets aligned with the Paris Agreement. Following completion of baseline greenhouse (GHG) assessments at each of the sites, and completion of TCFD-aligned climate risk and opportunity assessments, Sherritt expects to refine its targets and provide updates on actions / progress against them in future years reports. Our interim targets are as follows:
For more information on our approach to Climate Risk and Opportunities and a summary of our performance in 2021, please see our 2021 TCFD-Aligned Climate Report.
Sherritt recognizes that water is an important shared resource, integral to the well-being of communities, essential for ecosystems and a vital input for our business. Sherritt’s operations are continually taking steps to identify how to optimize practices and minimize the amount of water we use, and we have included increasing the amount of water recycled at our sites in our five-year sustainability goals.
Water management at each of our sites is tailored to specific technical requirements, local climate, water bodies and stakeholder interests – however, all governed by our overarching Water Management Standard. Through implementation of the Water Management Standard, our sites are able to effectively:
Sherritt’s goal is that its joint venture operates and maintains its tailings management facilities in accordance with global best practices for safety. We continually review our facilities and procedures and are committed to pursuing the highest standards at our operations.
As a member of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), Sherritt is committed to implementing and achieving the highest standards contained in the TSM Tailings Management Protocol. Sherritt recognizes the Mining Association of Canada’s guidance documents on tailings management as a benchmark of good management practice. Sherritt advocates for the adoption of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) through MAC and the incorporation of its requirements into the appropriate TSM protocols. Sherritt continues to review and evaluate monitoring systems and risk assessments to ensure our approach is robust and current.
Figure 1: Tailings Management Operating Structure
For more information on our approach to Tailings Management and a summary of our performance in 2021, please see our 2021 Tailings Management Report.