Mar 30, 2021

World Gold Council Resources

The World Gold Council and its members recognise that climate change imposes very substantial risks to the global economy and socio-economic development. Policy makers, industry stakeholders, asset owners, investors and wider society, are now eager for a greater understanding of these risks and their potential consequences, and how these might be mitigated or managed in future. In response to this, the WGC introduced a dedicate 'gold and climate change' programme. This programme of research and engagement is focused on gold's current and future climate impacts and the potential pathway to decarbonisation, and consideration of possible climate-related impacts on the global gold market and gold's performance as an investment asset.

World Gold Council

The World Gold Council and its members recognise that climate change imposes very substantial risks to the global economy and socio-economic development. Policy makers, industry stakeholders, asset owners, investors and wider society, are now eager for a greater understanding of these risks and their potential consequences, and how these might be mitigated or managed in future. In response to this, the WGC introduced a dedicate 'gold and climate change' programme. This programme of research and engagement is focused on gold's current and future climate impacts and the potential pathway to decarbonisation, and consideration of possible climate-related impacts on the global gold market and gold's performance as an investment asset.

The WGC’s ‘Gold and Climate Change’ programme seeks to deepen the understanding of gold’s current and potential future climate impacts, including gold’s ability to transition to a net zero carbon future. It also examines how various climate scenarios might impact gold’s performance as an investment asset and how this might be shaped by the policy and regulatory landscape. The programme, including engagement with key leaders and organisations shaping approaches to climate-related risks, is underpinned by detailed research, frequently undertaken in collaboration with a range of leading expert consultancies.

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Gold and climate change: An introduction (2018)

Gold and climate change: An introduction (2018) Published one year after the recommendations from the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), this report was the WGC's initial step in building understanding of the gold industry’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) footprint, the efforts already underway to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions, and gold's potential role in developing low carbon technologies.

Gold and climate change: Current and future impacts

This research, building on the WGC;s initial work of 2018, seeks to contribute to a clearer, more consistent appreciation of how climate-related risks (and opportunities) might impact the future prospects of the gold industry. This analysis offers a comprehensive overview of the current status of gold’s climate impacts and how the sector might adapt in the face of climate change in order to transition to a net zero carbon future.

Gold and climate change: The energy transition

This research looks at gold mining’s energy transition and climate impacts over the next decade. This should provide investors and industry stakeholders with greater clarity around gold’s greenhouse gas emissions profile, the opportunities for the gold sector to decarbonise, and its potential pathway to net-zero, in line with Paris Agreement targets.