2023 Environmental Performance
In 2023, NOVAGOLD and Donlin Gold continued to maintain high environmental standards, enact new policies, and report transparently, including submitting comprehensive climate change and water security disclosures to the Carbon Disclosure Project, with plans for continued submissions in 2024.
Energy, Emissions, and Climate Change
In 2023, NOVAGOLD adopted formal corporate Climate Change Policies and Biodiversity Policies. Beyond the aspirational goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050, the policy details our approach to addressing climate change across our current and future operations, including the Donlin Gold project. In 2023, NOVAGOLD commenced the implementation of the Climate Change Policy, and released our inaugural Climate Change Report, aligning with the recommendations of the TCFD.
NOVAGOLD adheres to the following definitions:
- Scope 1 (direct): Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. NOVAGOLD’s principal source of Scope 1 emissions is fuel supply at Donlin Gold.
- Scope 2 (indirect): Indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy.
- Scope 3 (indirect): Indirect emissions from upstream and downstream activities.
NOVAGOLD currently includes all Donlin Gold emissions within its boundaries. In line with current TCFD requirements, the Company calculates and discloses Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Scope 3 emissions are not yet required; nor are they measured. As the Company transitions to a new platform for measuring emissions, this may evolve for future disclosures. Explanations for each category of Scope 3 emissions are reported to CDP.
Due to the remote location of Donlin Gold, on-site diesel-fired power generation and heaters are essential to support current project site activities. In 2023, Donlin Gold’s Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were approximately 1,235 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq), marking a decrease from 2,633 metric tonnes of CO2-eq recorded in 2022. This decrease is primarily attributed to a significantly larger drill program completed during the 2022 field season and reduced site activity in 2023. This relatively low site activity, including power generation, also resulted in virtually no emissions of other air pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and total particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 micrograms per cubic meter.
No Scope 2 emissions were documented for Donlin Gold as the site remains remote and unconnected to the electrical grid. Anticipated annual fluctuations in emissions are attributed to varying levels of fieldwork and camp activities, determined by priorities set each year by the Donlin Gold LLC board. With a further reduction of field activity expected in 2024, GHG emissions are anticipated to remain relatively low and similar to the levels recorded in 2023, rather than the higher levels observed in 2022 when there was significantly increased site activity.
| 2021-2023 GHG EMISSIONS (Scope 1) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Metric tonnes of CO2-eq (GHG) emissions | 1,100 | 2,633 | 1,235 |
No Scope 2 emissions were documented for Donlin Gold as the site remains remote and unconnected to the electrical grid. Anticipated annual fluctuations in emissions are attributed to varying levels of fieldwork and camp activities, determined by priorities set each year by the Donlin Gold LLC board. With a further reduction of field activity expected in 2024, GHG emissions are anticipated to remain relatively low and similar to the levels recorded in 2023, rather than the higher levels observed in 2022 when there was significantly increased site activity.
In contrast, the NOVAGOLD offices in Salt Lake City and Vancouver draw all their electricity from the grid, resulting in Scope 2 emissions. Combined Scope 2 emissions from these offices in 2023 totaled approximately 220 metric tonnes of CO2 eq, a significant increase from the 34 metric tonnes of CO2 eq recorded in 2022. This rise can be attributed to heightened in-office activity throughout 2023.
As the Donlin Gold project advances through its life cycles, NOVAGOLD aims to incorporate considerations regarding carbon footprint and energy usage into the development and construction phases. This involves implementing energy-efficient systems, technologies, and processes, as well as sourcing energy from low-carbon and renewable sources. Recognizing that our energy consumption significantly impacts our ability to contribute to global climate change goals, NOVAGOLD prioritizes maximizing energy efficiency to minimize consumption.
Biodiversity and Baseline Environmental Studies / Mitigation
Protecting biodiversity is crucial, especially in connection with the development of the Donlin Gold project in western Alaska, where fish and wildlife are vital to residents’ lives. NOVAGOLD’s Biodiversity Policy expresses dedication to defining key biological resources and ensuring they are not adversely affected by our operations, aiming for no net loss of biodiversity values and enhancement of such values across the Y-K region.
In 2023, NOVAGOLD commenced the implementation of our Biodiversity Policy at the Donlin Gold project site, initiating the development of a Biodiversity Action Plan addressing species of concern, incorporating key indicator terrestrial and aquatic species but focused on salmon as it is a species under threat and of extraordinary importance to regional stakeholders. In 2024, NOVAGOLD will specifically re-initiate baseline aquatic monitoring program in the Crooked Creek watershed around the mine site, including comprehensive studies of salmon and other fish, macroinvertebrates, and periphyton populations. Furthermore, sampling efforts will also be directed at further characterizing sediment and fish tissue quality to define pre-mining conditions.
Beginning in 2021, Donlin Gold initiated the planning for a fish habitat restoration project in the Crooked Creek watershed. This project aims to restore fish habitat in areas adversely affected by historic placer mining activities, with a focus on both resident fish and coho salmon. In 2023, site reclamation work was begun to re-establish pre-mining hydrologic conditions while also retaining pond areas formed by the historic mining that is valuable fish habitat not otherwise found in the drainage. In 2024, the reclaimed areas will be opened to fish access and use. Monitoring will also be initiated to assess the success of the restoration project. This will allow for any necessary modifications and provide valuable insights for guiding additional fish habitat restoration efforts in other areas within the watershed. Initial observations during 2023 indicate that the project is poised for high success, particularly in creating important pond habitat.
In 2023, Donlin Gold extended its investigations in the Middle Kuskokwim River to further delineate potential baseline populations and spawning behavior of rainbow smelt, a key subsistence species for certain villages. Over the past decade, Donlin Gold diligently identified the locations and timing of rainbow smelt spawning and migration, marking a groundbreaking effort in the Y-K region. The study was augmented in 2022 and 2023, with additional hydrodynamic surveys conducted to map shallow areas in the river where rainbow smelt eggs could be found and help ensure they will not be affected by barging activities. In collaboration with local subsistence users, this gathered information will play a crucial role in confirming that barging will not adversely impact rainbow smelt of their subsistence uses.
During 2023, Donlin Gold expanded its collaboration with Alaska Native Corporation partners to monitor and assess salmon fisheries conditions throughout the Kuskokwim and Yukon River watersheds. Declining salmon populations have been a key concern for stakeholders throughout these watersheds, as salmon are integral to preserving the traditional ways of life in the region. In the second half of 2023, Donlin Gold and NOVAGOLD began to identify specific potential project opportunities aimed at helping to monitor, evaluate, and enhance the health of salmon populations. Looking ahead in 2024, consistent with the goals and provisions of the Biodiversity Action Plan (“BAP”), Donlin Gold and NOVAGOLD are poised to work with regional stakeholders to initiate one or more of these projects with the long-term aim of initiating additional off-site biodiversity enhancement and protection projects in the vicinity of the project site and throughout the broader Kuskokwim River watershed.