2018 Progress and Achievements

The progress and the achievements we have had over the last 12 months have placed the initiative on an exponential growth path for the coming years. Over 350 million tons of coal per annum come from mines which have undergone the Bettercoal Assessment Process or are committed to doing so in the coming months.

In July 2018, following a two-year review process with the multi-stakeholder Technical & Advisory Committee and Members, Bettercoal launched its fully revised Assurance System and associated documents.

Improvements have been made to better capture the commitment of Suppliers and to ensure that the outcomes and expectations are clear and consistent, that reporting is transparent, and that deadlines are met.

The new Assessment Process consists of five steps – Supplier Commitment, Desktop Review, Site-Assessment, Continuous Improvement and Re-Assessment – and requires Suppliers to report regularly on continuous improvement. This new system aims to reflect:

• A strong commitment made by coal producers from the outset, including clear deadlines;
• Mandatory Site-Assessment and reporting on Continuous Improvement;
• Clear guidelines for Bettercoal members’ involvement in the process to avoid duplication of effort;
• Clear and transparent claims for coal producers joining the Bettercoal Assessment Process and use in marketing materials;
• Public reports once the Continuous Improvement Plan has been agreed;
• New Policy of Association and clear guidelines for disassociation.

The new Members’ Implementation and Reporting Obligations (MIRO) Phase 3 have just been approved by the Board of Directors and the implementation will start in early 2019. The new set of key performance indicators aims to demonstrate a change in Members’ coal purchasing practices towards more responsible sourcing. The first MIRO Phase 3 report with aggregated data will be published on the Bettercoal website in Q2 2019.

All these changes needed to be supported by improved communications and better online presence. Therefore, in May this year, we launched a new Bettercoal brand and website that place the human component of the coal mining industry at the centre and provide more clarity, transparency and authority, yet remaining human and understandable.

2018 was also the first year we organised Conversations on Responsible Energy in Amsterdam, a public event where the different stakeholders of the coal supply chain were present: coal producers, buyers, trading companies, government representatives, civil society organisations, NGOs and other standards initiatives.

Bettercoal recognises the crucial importance of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. We are committed to a Just Energy Transition where the coal supply chain is fully scrutinised with the same attention as any other mineral supply chain. Whereas Europe and some of the Bettercoal Members have clear phasing out of coal for power generation plans, many other regions still see a significant role for coal in the future. Moreover, coal remains a core part of the manufacturing processes of steel and cement. Our fundamental belief is that as long as coal is being used, no matter the end use, we have a duty to ensure that it is mined responsibly, that mine closure is done within the framework of a just transition and that buyers of coal source from mines which are responsible and committed to continuous improvement.

Over the next few years, Bettercoal will focus on delivering a quality assurance process continuing to grow the number of mines part of the Bettercoal Assessment Process. We will also review our Governance model to assess how we can better integrate the different parts of the coal value chain into our organisation. We will design and implement strong Monitoring & Evaluation systems allowing us to report on the impact Bettercoal is having on the ground.  We will also conduct a minor review of the Bettercoal Code to ensure it is fit for purpose and can work alongside other recognised standards.