Greenhouse Gas (GHG) refers to any gas in the Earth's atmosphere that absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation, thereby trapping heat and contributing to the greenhouse effect and global climate change. The primary greenhouse gases of relevance to mining operations include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases such as perfluorocarbons (PFCs). In the mining sector, GHG emissions arise from numerous sources including diesel combustion in haul trucks, excavators, drills, and ancillary vehicles; electricity generation and consumption in processing plants; blasting using ammonium nitrate-based explosives; methane release from coal seams (less relevant for bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond mining); and process emissions from aluminium smelting, where PFCs are released during anode effects.
GHG emissions from mining operations are classified into Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity), and Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions in the value chain). Mining companies are increasingly required by regulators, investors, and stakeholders to measure, report, and reduce their GHG emissions in line with international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Strategies for reducing GHG emissions in mining include electrification of mining fleets, use of renewable energy, optimisation of haul road gradients, improved blasting efficiency, and implementation of carbon capture technologies. Reporting standards such as the GHG Protocol guide consistent measurement and disclosure practices.