Project selection standard
General project selection standard
GHD will:
- promote and support engagement with traditional custodians where projects interact with cultural heritage.
- promote and support work to preserve ecosystem values where projects interact with sites recognised by Ramsar, World Heritage or International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) biodiversity designations.
- implement the necessary measures to ensure respect for human rights* in our project work and will not knowingly participate in projects that violate human rights of impacted stakeholders.
- only seek work and participate in projects that we believe have high standards of corporate ethics, with complete integrity and “zero tolerance” towards unethical business practices.
- require that suppliers act in a similar manner in accordance with GHD’s Vendor Code of Conduct.
Fossil fuels project selection guidelines
Coal mining
Projects we will consider:
- Metallurgical coal mines
- Coal mine closure and repurposing projects
- Maintenance and optimisation of existing thermal coal mines, including activities that improve their environmental performance
- Brownfield thermal coal projects that support the delivery of low carbon energy solutions
Projects we will seek to avoid:
- Greenfield thermal coal mines
- Brownfield thermal coal mine expansions other than in support of low carbon energy solutions
Coal fired power stations
Projects we will consider:
- Maintenance and optimisation of existing coal-fired power stations, including activities that improve their environmental performance
- Coal-fired power station closure and repurposing
Projects we will seek to avoid:
- New coal-fired power stations
- Expansion of existing coal-fired power stations
Oil
Projects we will consider:
- Small-scale diesel generation facilities for emergency supply backup or remote communities
- Maintenance and optimisation of existing oil-fired power stations, including activities that improve their environmental performance
- Maintenance and optimisation of existing oil production facilities
- Oil-fired power station closure and repurposing
Projects we will seek to avoid:
- Greenfield oil exploration or production, including unconventional and conventional oil
- New oil-fired power stations
- Expansion of existing oil-fired power stations
- Expansion of oil production facilities
Natural gas
Projects we will consider:
In the short to medium term, we will continue to work on natural gas projects, including conventional gas and unconventional gas exploration & production and gas-fired power stations, as an essential component of our fuel mix as we transition to renewable sources.