BHP board plays down investor demands to leave groups including Minerals Council

BHP says shareholder resolution to leave industry groups at odds with climate stance is unnecessary, as review is under way

BHP's board has rejected as unnecessary a shareholder resolution requiring it to suspend its membership of organisations, including the Minerals Council of Australia, that are at odds with the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

The miner said the resolution, backed by investors including tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and a group of pension funds, was not needed because, as the Guardian has previously reported, it is already reviewing its membership of industry bodies.