Our ambition

We acknowledge the nature of our mining operations across their life cycle can have direct impacts on biodiversity (e.g. clearing of native vegetation), but also dependencies for safe and reliable operations on the services provided by healthy and functioning ecosystems (e.g. stable water supply and climate regulation). 

Our 2030 Healthy environment goal is designed as part of our contribution to national and global efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Our 2030 Healthy environment goal is to create nature-positive¹ outcomes by having at least 30 per cent of the land and water we steward² under conservation, restoration or regenerative practices by the end of FY2030.

_{¹ Nature-positive is defined by the TNFD Glossary version 1.0 as ‘A high-level goal and concept describing a future state of nature (e.g. biodiversity, ecosystem services and natural capital) which is greater than the current state’. We understand it includes land and water management practices that halt and reverse nature loss – that is, supporting healthy, functioning ecosystems. BHP intends to review this definition in FY2025, in light of the recently revised TNFD Glossary version 2.0 (June 2024) definition of nature positive.}

_{² Excluding greenfield exploration licences (or equivalent tenements), which are located outside the area of influence of our existing mine operations. 30 per cent will be calculated based on the areas of land and water that we steward at the end of FY2030. For more information refer to the BHP ESG Standards and Databook 2024.}  

Our approach and position

Biological diversity in all its forms, from genes to species and ecosystems, is essential to maintain the services we all depend on for the clean air, water and food needed to survive, and the habitats we depend on to regulate our climate. Rapid declines in biodiversity represent an existential threat to humanity. 

BHP has developed a Group-level biodiversity strategy (illustrated below) that outlines our purpose and strategic priorities, and is designed to inform operational decision-making across the full lifecycle of mining operations at our operated assets. The Group-level strategy provides a clear direction that enables alignment of asset-level biodiversity and land objectives and supports delivery of the 2030 Healthy environment goal.

Actions have commenced under our three strategic priority areas (described in the Performance section):

• Valuing natural capital – to ensure biodiversity is ascribed value in BHP’s investment and operational decisions through the integration of ‘natural capital’ into strategy, planning, risk management and evaluation frameworks
• Innovation and collaboration – partner and work with others externally to address technical biodiversity knowledge gaps, regional biodiversity policy and governance, and shared biodiversity challenges in the areas where BHP operates and in our value chain
• Nature-related disclosures – disclose biodiversity-related impacts and dependencies, risk management and performance. 

Risk

Our operated assets are required to identify and map key features and define the area of influence for important biodiversity and/or ecosystems. In accordance with our Group-wide Risk Framework, we then undertake a risk assessment for the defined area of influence, taking into consideration relevant impacts, including any actual or reasonably foreseeable operational impacts (whether direct, indirect or cumulative), and apply the mitigation hierarchy to manage threats and opportunities to achieve our environmental objectives. For adverse residual impacts to important biodiversity and/or ecosystems (which cannot be avoided, minimised or rehabilitated), we identify compensatory actions, such as the use of environment offsets, to achieve outcomes that align with BHP’s risk appetite to manage threats and opportunities to achieve our environmental objectives. 

Impacts and dependencies 

We have a range of potential direct, indirect or cumulative impacts on the environment, including:

• Removal of habitat – in preparation for resource extraction activities or infrastructure installation, which could completely remove a species or community if it is endangered or has a geographically restricted area of distribution
• Changes to water availability or water quality – groundwater or marine water abstraction, re-injection of surplus water, surface water discharge or diversion, port facilities, disposal of dredge spoil or discharges into the marine environment could remove or alter habitat for a number of species or communities that rely on it for some or all of their life cycle
• Use of infrastructure corridors – which may reduce a species’ ability to move or migrate, or increase the risk of death through vehicle or boat strikes
• Introduction or spread of non-native species – competition, predation or infection arising from the introduction or increased spread of a non-native species may result in local extinctions of native species or reduced ecosystem function
• Inappropriate disposal of waste – which could lead to death of animals, such as through entrapment, or illness due to consumption
• Noise or light pollution – which could alter an animal’s behaviour (e.g. it may not be able to see or hear prey or predators, may avoid areas, or become disorientated)
• Reduction in air quality – increased dust or air pollution may alter vegetation structure or animal behaviour
• Pastoralism – agricultural operations on non-operational land may impact vegetation structure, extent and condition, and impact soil quality, contributing to long-term land degradation
  
   

In addition, we depend on the services provided by healthy and functioning ecosystems for safe and reliable operations, including:

• Stable water supply – Water is integral to our business and vital to the longevity of BHP. We cannot operate without it. For more information on our approach to water management refer to the Water stewardship webpage.
• Climate regulation – Limiting the frequency and/or extremity of weather events, such as storms or flooding may damage critical infrastructure. For example, rail lines and ports are examples of a nature-related dependency that can have material effects on operations.
• Resistance to fire regimes – In some areas, such as in Australia, vegetation is adapted to some level of fire, however, increased frequency and intensity of fires can alter vegetation structure and may result in damage to key operational infrastructure.
• Social amenity – Regulation of air quality, noise and light levels by natural assets. 
  
   

Case studies