BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 0.58% in early afternoon trade.
This comes amid a wider bout of selling that sees the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) down 1.12% at this same time.
Despite the dip, the BHP share price remains up 7.6% over the past five days.
But let's take a closer look at how the ASX 200 mining giant plans to meet its emissions reduction and other social value targets.
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BHP shares looking greener
It's been three years since BHP unveiled its preliminary social value plans.
Yesterday the miner's chief legal, governance, and external affairs officer, Caroline Cox, provided BHP shareholders with an update on those plans.
BHP is hardwiring social value into every level of decision-making across our global business, from company strategy and capital allocation to everyday activities at our operations…
Our new social value framework and 2030 scorecard outline the goals, metrics and milestones against which our investors and stakeholders can measure our progress and performance.
The scorecard in question has six ESG objectives: decarbonisation, environment, Indigenous partnerships, workforce, communities, and supply chains.
On the environmental front and adding a tinge of green to BHP shares, the scorecard sets a new environmental goal. By 2030, the miner aims to have at least 30% of the land and water that it holds under "conservation, restoration or regenerative practices".
According to Cox:
By embedding social value into the way we do business, we believe we will further strengthen our relationships and access to the best resources, partners, markets and talent to discover and produce the minerals required for global economic development and decarbonisation, which will in turn create competitive advantage.
Essential commodities
Cox also reminded BHP shareholders of the essential nature of the company's business.
"The commodities we produce are essential to everyday life," she said. "From infrastructure that connects us globally to providing the fundamental ingredients for renewable energy and decarbonisation, and food security."
Atop that, she pointed to the "significant economic contribution" BHP makes to the nations and communities where it operates.
"In FY21, we contributed more than 40 billion US dollars in wages, taxes, royalties, dividends, and payments to suppliers," she said.
How have BHP shares been performing?
Taking a longer-term view, BHP shares are up 85% over the past five years. That compares to a 17% gain posted by the ASX 200 over that same period.
BHP also pays an 11.6% trailing dividend yield, fully franked.
