Between 1990 and 2016, copper mining provided on average of 7.8% of tax revenue for Chile

A barren, leached cap,

Due to its electrical conductivity, copper is used in electronics, cars, and wires. This makes copper critical for highly developed countries.

Codelco is a state-owned Chilean mining company and the world’s largest copper producer. Based on their annual report and USGS statistics, they produced ~10% of the world’s copper in 2015 and own 8% of global reserves. They are also a large producer of greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, Codelco produced 3,2 t CO2e/millions tmf from both indirect and direct effects, and in 2011 it consumed 12% of the total national electricity supply.

What can Codelco do, then? In addition to cost cutting, Codelco could consider entering the recycling copper industry, as energy prices are driving “virgin” copper costs up.

copper mining significantly contributes to climate change.