Billionaire Andrew Forrest has declared Fortescue Metals Group is leading a "green industrial revolution" which will help save the planet while protecting shareholder profits.
Addressing Fortescue's annual general meeting in Perth on Tuesday, Mr Forrest said the mining giant had evolved into a "very large and vertically integrated resources and green energy and products company."
Mr Forrest, the company's founder and chairman, delivered the speech from Glasgow where he recently attended the United Nations climate change conference.
He said there was significant investor interest in initiatives led by Fortescue Future Industries, a subsidiary company focused on green energy and hydrogen.
Fortescue delivered its highest ever annual profit last financial year, driven by record iron ore shipments and a surge in the price of the steelmaking commodity.
"You know we've shot the lights out with iron ore ... we'll continue to do so as we protect and grow your shareholder wealth," Mr Forrest told the meeting.
"The green industrial revolution which Fortescue is now a leader in may be our biggest challenge but is also the biggest opportunity in economic history.
"The implementation capital, which over time will be hundreds of billions, much of that capital will be joined by and funded by the world's greatest institutions who must invest on humanity's journey towards a zero-carbon future."
Having battled through technical difficulties at the start of his speech, Mr Forrest presented a video which included footage of floods and koalas fleeing bushfires amid ominous warnings from David Attenborough about climate change.
Fortescue is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and has said it wants to ship 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen by the same year, with a goal of making it the world's most traded seaborne commodity.
Mr Forrest last month outlined billion-dollar plans for green hydrogen production facilities across Australia, including in NSW, Queensland and Tasmania.
He has warned the nation risks losing vital investment unless serious action is taken on climate change.
