On Monday, Vale released its first report on sustainability-related financial information. With this initiative, the mining company becomes the first in the global mining sector and the first Brazilian company to prepare this type of document in accordance with the standards of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), adopting the new global standard for companies to report risks and opportunities related to sustainability.
Vale voluntarily adopted the standard, which will be mandatory for publicly traded companies in Brazil only from 2027 (with data referring to 2026), according to the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM).
The report states that, since 2020, Vale has already invested US$ 1.4 billion in decarbonization initiatives. In 2024 alone, the amount invested was US$ 257 million. The company aims to reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (direct and indirect) by 33% by 2030, compared to the base year of 2017, and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The company also seeks to reduce scope 3 emissions related to the value chain by 15% by 2035.
“This report underscores Vale’s strategic readiness to lead in sustainable mining, uniquely positioned to contribute to global decarbonization efforts while advancing toward becoming a benchmark in long-term value creation. This disclosure also highlights Vale’s commitment to achieving its emission reduction targets through transparent and responsible actions, pragmatically investing in the execution of its climate strategy and advancing sustainability best practices”, says Gustavo Pimenta, Vale’s CEO.
The report presents Vale’s strategy for addressing climate change and details risks and opportunities related to the topic. Among the significant opportunities for the company are the increased demand for iron ore products with the potential to reduce carbon emissions from the steel industry and the growing demand for metals for the energy transition, such as nickel and copper.
In the report, the company details its investments in decarbonization in 2024, such as the development of iron ore briquettes, which can reduce blast furnace emissions by up to 10% and, if used in the direct reduction route, can enable green steel production. It also mentions the development of Mega Hubs, industrial complexes focused on low-carbon steel products, which the company is implementing with partners in the Middle East, the US, and Brazil. There are also initiatives to reduce direct emissions, such as expanding the use of biofuels in operations.
Regarding risk management, Vale reports how it adopts ongoing assessment of risks related to climate change, considering the transition to a low-carbon economy and the physical impacts of climate change. The company also details its continuous monitoring of the issue throughout the value chain, using climate scenario analysis to assess asset vulnerability and adaptation plans.