LONDON (Reuters] – Tuesday’s statement by the International Council on Mining and Metals, (ICMM), stated that top miners around the world committed to zero carbon emissions in direct and indirect ways by 2050.

Rohitesh Dhawan, CEO of ICMM stated in an open letter that was signed by the chiefs from 28 largest miners around the globe: “ICMM member’s collective commitment to net Zero Scope One (direct) or Two (indirect), greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is a pivotal point in our history.”

This announcement is made before the U.N. Climate Gathering next month, which aims to reach more ambitious climate actions from nearly 200 of the countries who signed the 2015 Paris Agreement.

There are many miners, including Anglo American BHP has already pledged to zero direct or indirect carbon emissions (NYSE: Rio Tinto, LON:) and (NYSE: Rio Tinto:) under the pressure of shareholders and environmental activists.

However, the ICMM stated that the collective commitment “represents a shared ambition of companies that comprise one third the global mining, metals industry.”

The 28 members of the group, which has operations in 650 locations across 50 countries, will each report on how they are progressing to decarbonise every year.

The “decarbonization challenge” in mining is that the sector must reduce its carbon emissions and produce valuable metals like nickel. Konrad von Szczepanski was Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group.

Dhawan explained to Reuters, that indirect and direct emissions could be reduced by accelerating the utilization of renewable energy and reducing/eliminating the use diesel trucks.

Scope three emission targets, including those of customers who process iron ore into steel, must be established “if not before the end 2023”, as soon as feasible.

However, the technology required to make carbon-free stainless steel is still not available.

Glencore (OTC), world’s leading supplier of seaborne thermo coal, has committed itself to three goals. These include reducing the size and cost of its coal mines.

ICMM Members include Barrick Gold (NYSE 🙂 Alcoa Dhawan claimed that (NYSE:), collectively have cut emission by 6% from 2016-2018.