Page 60 - Annual Report 2020

1.7.6 Environment

Minimising environmental impacts To support continual improvement in environmental performance,
There is growing pressure on and competition for environmental each of our operated assets is required to have an Environmental
resources, such as land, biodiversity, water and air; and climate Management System (EMS) that aligns with ISO14001 standards
change amplifies aspects of the sensitivities of our natural systems. and set target environmental outcomes for land, biodiversity, air
Our operations and growth strategy depend on obtaining and and water resources that are consistent with the assessed risks
maintaining the right to access these environmental resources. and potential impacts. Target environmental outcomes are required
Our environmental performance and management of to be approved by the relevant Asset President or equivalent and
environmental impacts on the communities in which we operate included in the life of asset plan. Verification of the EMS is either via
are critical to creating social value. We seek to avoid, minimise ISO14001 certification, for those sites that currently hold ISO14001
and mitigate adverse environmental impacts at every stage certification, or internal assurance processes.
in the life cycle of our operated assets in line with our defined We released an updated version of the Our Requirements for
risk appetite. However, we recognise our activities have an Environment and Climate Change standard in FY2020, to reflect
environmental footprint, and therefore, we also commit to making recent changes in BHP’s Risk Framework and other Our
voluntary contributions to support environmental resilience across Requirements standards, our Water Stewardship Position
the regions in which we operate. Statement, current public environment targets for climate change,
We have comprehensive governance, risk management, policies water and biodiversity, and new technical standards for water.
and processes that set the basis for how we manage risk and Our operated assets are required to have an implementation plan
realise opportunities to achieve our environmental objectives. in place for new requirements contained in the updated version
Our approach to environmental management is set out in the of the standard.
Our Requirements for Environment and Climate Change standard More information on our environment approach, the Our
and our mandatory minimum performance requirements for risk Requirements for Environment and Climate Change standard and
management. These standards have been designed taking account environmental management and governance processes is available
of the ISO management system requirements, such as ISO14001 at bhp.com/sustainability.
for Environmental Management.
The Our Requirements for Environment and Climate Change
standard outlines our Group-wide mandatory minimum
requirements to deliver on our commitments and manage risk.
It requires us to take an integrated, risk-based approach to the
management of any actual or reasonably foreseeable operational
impacts (which includes direct, indirect and cumulative impacts)
on land, biodiversity, water and air. We establish and implement
monitoring and review practices designed to ensure continued
management of environment-related risk within our risk appetite
through business planning and project evaluation cycles.
In addition to the environment specific components, the standard
also includes specific climate change-related requirements
for our operated assets.

58 BHP Annual Report 2020