12:35 PM EDT, 07/30/2024 (MT Newswires) -- An Australian advocacy group said Tuesday it was no longer engaged with Rio Tinto (RIO) on the miner's climate-related lobbying.

The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility said it had "disengaged from year-long discussions" following revelations the miner engaged in "negative advocacy" while making public statements to the contrary.

ACCR said it has been meeting with Rio Tinto since 2023 to discuss the company's public commitment to positive climate advocacy and decarbonization briefing papers. However, it was later revealed the miner had lobbied to the Australian prime minister to "obstruct and prevent climate considerations" in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of Australia, according to the ACCR.

"The fact [Rio Tinto] has provided a public commitment highlighting the need for greater transparency and the critical role of government policy signals in decarbonization, and has then gone against this commitment behind closed doors, is hypocritical and a breach of trust," Naomi Hogan, company strategy lead at ACCR, said in a statement.

Hogan said the ACCR would reengage with Rio Tinto if the miner "clearly and formally updates its advocacy position on the [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act]" in Australia.

"We will not participate in engagements that could rightly be perceived as greenwashing," Hogan said.

Rio Tinto did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

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