BHP leaves coal lobby group

BHP has quit the World Coal Association over a split in ideology on climate change.

But the mining giant has resolved to stay within the Minerals Council of Australia as well as the United States Chamber of Commerce.

The announcement sparked a stinging rebuke from the global coal lobby group which noted BHP is “one of the world’s largest exporters of coal” and had helped draw up the association’s energy and climate change policies.

BHP’s decision to end its membership and funding of the WCA comes as Rio Tinto exits coal via a series of sales which will reshape the global production landscape for coal.

Both mining houses have been targeted by activist investors for their membership of groups which promote the use of coal.

BHP flagged in December it expected to leave the WCA after conducting a review into its industry association memberships and their approach to energy and climate change.