Rio Tinto PLC
Rio Tinto's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2024, Rio Tinto completed a corporate carbon footprint assessment and publicly disclosed its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to the GHG Protocol, covering Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy) and Scope 3 (indirect emissions across the value chain).
Rio Tinto has also provided a category-level breakdown for 7 out of 15 Scope 3 emissions categories, offering greater transparency into its value chain emissions.
| Metric (tCO2e) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 - 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Scope 1 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
Total Scope 2 | ||||
Market-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
Location-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
Unspecified Calculation Method | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | 0000000 |
Total Scope 3 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
Total Scope 1 Revenue Intensity (tCO2e/$M) | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
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aVerified Sources Behind Rio Tinto’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Data
Every figure on this dashboard has a transparent audit trail. With Tracenable, each data point is traceable back to its original source, viewable directly inside our platform. Explore Rio Tinto’s data sources below and access millions more through our Disclosure Search.
Insights into Rio Tinto's Operational Emissions
In 2024, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Rio Tinto amounted to 30,800,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This figure includes both direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2). a
Compared to 2023, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Rio Tinto decreased by 0.96%, showing that the company has made progress in taking action to reduce the climate impact of its operations. a
Rio Tinto's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Rio Tinto's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2024, the total Scope 1 emissions of Rio Tinto were 23,000,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Has Rio Tinto reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2018, Rio Tinto's Scope 1 emissions have decreased by 5.74%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time. a b
Compared to the previous year (2023), Rio Tinto's Scope 1 emissions decreased by 1.29%, highlighting the company's efforts to lower direct emissions from assets it owns or controls. a
What are Rio Tinto's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2024, Rio Tinto reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 6,900,000 tCO₂e using the market-based method and 7,800,000 tCO₂e using the location-based method. a
Has Rio Tinto reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Compared to the previous year (2023), Rio Tinto's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) have remained relatively stable, indicating that Rio Tinto 's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its energy consumption footprint. a
What methodology does Rio Tinto use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2024, Rio Tinto reported its Scope 2 emissions using the market-based method and using the location-based method. a
Rio Tinto's Scope 2 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 2 Location-Based
- Total Scope 2 Market-Based
- Total Scope 2 (Unspecified Calculation Method)
Insights into Rio Tinto's Value Chain Emissions
In 2024, Rio Tinto reported 574,600,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, representing indirect emissions across its upstream and downstream value chain. a
The 2024 disclosure of Rio Tinto includes a breakdown across 7 of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol, matching the level of disclosure in 2023, demonstrating consistent Scope 3 emissions reporting coverage year over year. a
Rio Tinto's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Rio Tinto's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, Rio Tinto reported total Scope 3 emissions of 574,600,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Approximately 5.44% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 94.56% came from downstream activities like product use, distribution, and end-of-life treatment. a
Compared to the previous year (2023), Rio Tinto's Scope 3 emissions remained relatively stable, indicating that Rio Tinto 's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its value chain footprint. a
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does Rio Tinto disclose?
In 2024, Rio Tinto reported emissions for 7 out of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol. a
This partial disclosure allows for some insight into the company's indirect impacts.
What are the main sources of Rio Tinto's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, the largest contributors to Rio Tinto's Scope 3 emissions were: a
- Processing of Sold Products (Cat. 10): 542,700,000 tCO₂e (94.56%)
- Purchased Goods and Services (Cat. 1): 14,800,000 tCO₂e (2.58%)
- Upstream Transportation and Distribution (Cat. 4): 6,800,000 tCO₂e (1.18%)
Rio Tinto's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into Rio Tinto’s GHG Emissions Intensity Compared to Industry Peers
In 2024, Rio Tinto reported Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 23,000,000 tCO₂e and total revenues of USD 39,621 millions. This translates into an emissions intensity of 580.51 tCO₂e per millions USD. a
Rio Tinto's Scope 1 Emissions Intensity Compared to Peers
How does Rio Tinto's GHG emissions intensity compare to its peers?
In 2024, Rio Tinto reported a Scope 1 emissions intensity of 580.51 tCO₂e per millions USD. Compared to the peer group median of 222.88 , this places the company above its industry benchmark, indicating it is less carbon-efficient than most competitors. a
Where does Rio Tinto rank on GHG emissions intensity within its industry?
In 2024, Rio Tinto ranked 19 out of 23 companies in its industry peer group, based on Scope 1 emissions intensity (measured in tCO₂e per millions USD). a
This places Rio Tinto among the least efficient performers, with one of the highest emissions intensities in its sector. a
Insights into Rio Tinto's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2024, Rio Tinto reported a total carbon footprint of 605,400,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 0.3% increase compared to 2023, suggesting a rise in emissions across its operations or value chain. a
The largest contributor to Rio Tinto's total carbon footprint was Scope 3 emissions, accounting for 94.91% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 1 emissions at 3.8%. a