Jesuit Order Considers Divesting from Rio Tinto Over Environmental Concerns

The British Jesuit province announced it is reviewing the sale of its Rio Tinto shares after repeated unsatisfactory engagements over environmental issues at the company's Madagascar and Guinea sites and concerns about its Scope 3 emissions.

Reuters

The Jesuits’ ethical-investment office, led by Stephen Power SJ, has monitored Rio Tinto for several years. Over the past three to four years the order attended the firm’s AGMs, pressing for detailed water-quality data and broader sustainability measures. The possible divestment reflects a growing trend among faith-based investors to align portfolios with environmental stewardship.

Reuters

• Stephen Power SJ – Head of ethical investments for the British Jesuit province.

Reuters

• Dominic Barton – Chair of Rio Tinto.

Reuters

• Environmental NGOs – Groups highlighting contamination at the Madagascar mine.

Reuters

• Jesuit Order (Britain) – Catholic order with a global investment portfolio.

Reuters

NGOs allege that water downstream of Rio Tinto’s southern Madagascar mine contains high uranium and lead levels, linked to kidney damage and impaired child development. The Jesuits cite delayed, incomplete water-quality reports as evidence of inadequate monitoring. Rio Tinto’s chair says regulated metals are “consistently below laboratory limits of detection.”

Reuters

Stephen Power said the Jesuits have engaged with Rio Tinto for several years, attending AGMs and seeking detailed water-quality data, which he called “late, lacking the required detail, or not materialising at all.” Dominic Barton replied the firm devoted “a lot of time” to water-quality management and cited assessments showing low metal concentrations.

Reuters

Environmental groups argue the company’s monitoring fails to protect communities relying on the river for drinking water, warning that uranium and lead pose long-term health risks and calling for immediate remedial action and transparent reporting.

Reuters

NGOs claim high uranium and lead levels, while Rio Tinto’s chair says regulated metals are below detection limits. The Jesuits have not released independent water-quality testing, leaving the true contamination level unclear.

Reuters

The possible divestment highlights rising pressure on extractive firms to meet stricter environmental standards, especially from investors guided by moral or religious values. A high-profile withdrawal could signal to other faith-based funds that environmental accountability is essential for investment.

Reuters

• “We've engaged with Rio the last three, possibly four years coming to AGMs,” — Stephen Power SJ

Reuters

• “focused a lot of time” — Dominic Barton

Reuters

• “regulated metals consistently below laboratory limits of detection.” — Dominic Barton

Reuters

The Jesuit province will decide on the sale in the coming weeks. Rio Tinto says it will keep publishing water-quality data and engaging stakeholders, while NGOs plan to monitor the situation and pursue further advocacy.

Reuters