BHP admits to stalled emissions reductions as WA premier says miners have ‘moral obligation’ to decarbonise

Tim Day blamed BHP’s decarbonisation delay on obstacles to replacing the use of diesel due to what he said were slow advancements in electric trucking and rail technology. Composite: Krystle Wright/Guardian Design/The Guardian

A senior BHP executive has admitted the Australian multinational’s push to reduce emissions has been delayed as the Western Australian premier, Roger Cook, said big miners had an “important moral obligation” to decarbonise.

An exclusive investigation based on documents leaked to the Guardian and ABC revealed this week that the world’s biggest miner has hit the brakes on decarbonisation, something experts fear could put Australia’s national emissions reductions targets at risk.