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.
*as defined by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
General project selection standard
Fossil fuels project selection guidelines
Please note: All projects still require consideration of any unacceptable cultural heritage, ecological, human rights or integrity impacts or concerns, or other matters that conflict with GHD’s values, purpose and vision.
Coal mining
Projects GHD will consider:
- Metallurgical coal mines, including where there is incidental associated thermal coal production
- Coal mine closure and repurposing projects
- Maintenance and optimisation of existing thermal coal mines, including activities that improve their environmental performance
- Increases in processing capacity for thermal coal mines where there is no change in the overall permitted resource extent
- Brownfield thermal coal mines that support the delivery of low carbon energy solutions
Projects GHD will seek to avoid:
- Greenfield thermal coal mines
- Brownfield thermal coal mine resource expansions other than in support of low carbon energy solutions
Coal fired power stations
Projects GHD 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 GHD will seek to avoid:
- New coal-fired power stations
- Expansion of existing coal-fired power stations
Oil
Projects GHD 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 GHD 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
We will continue to work on natural gas projects, including liquified natural gas (LNG), 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.
Frequently asked questions
Get answers to frequently asked questions about GHD's project selection standard