"BHP Billiton chiefs grilled over climate", 23 Oct 2015

BHP Billiton has been accused at its AGM in London of not doing enough to reduce carbon emissions and protect indigenous communities affected by its resource projects...Mr Nasser said he was "terribly disappointed" at one questioner's accusation the company could show more leadership on climate change and challenged anyone to name any other large resource company that was doing more...Another questioner asked why BHP Billiton continued to belong to the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and the Business Council of Australia (BCA) "whose position on climate change is worryingly regressive" and inconsistent with BHP Billiton's position. Mr Nasser replied that as one of Australia's largest companies it was appropriate to belong to both associations which acknowledged human-induced climate change but differed over the actions needed to address it.

The chairman and CEO were also grilled over the impacts of resource projects on indigenous communities...[around the Cerrejon coal project] in Colombia...Mr Mackenzie said the project had majority support from locals but the company would continue to work to resolve the issues.  Concerns were also raised over environmental and land issues at the Indomet coal project in Kalimantan and a contentious land swap at a Rio Tinto-BHP Billiton copper project affecting Apache communities at Oak Flat in Arizona.  Mr Nasser promised the questioners the company was committed to operating transparently and in an environmentally responsible manner in projects aimed at benefiting communities in line with BHP Billiton values.