ICMM - International Council on Mining & Metals

The International Council on Mining and Metals - ICMM - was formed in 2001 to represent the world’s leading companies in the mining and metals industry and to advance their commitment to sustainable development.

However its conception can be dated to two years earlier, when the global mining firms accepted at the highest level that their sector was facing significant problems in reputation, sustaining profits, access to new assets and maintaining investor and employee confidence.

1999

Nine of the largest mining and metals companies launch the Global Mining Initiative (GMI) in order to prepare the sector for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002, the tenth anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit.

2000

Start of an independent process of consultation and research known as the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) project, led by the late Richard Sandbrook at the International Institute for Environment and Development.

2001

The board of the metals industry’s representative organization, the International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME) agrees to broaden the group’s mandate and transform itself into the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).

Creation of ICMM, with a secretariat based in London.

2002

The GMI concludes with a major global conference, Resourcing the Future, held in Toronto, Canada. ICMM member companies sign the Toronto Declaration committing ICMM to continue the work started by the MMSD project and engage in constructive dialogue with key stakeholders.

Publication of the MMSD’s Breaking New Ground report. 

2003

ICMM members recognize the environmental values of certain protected areas and pledged not to mine or explore in World Heritage Sites.

ICMM Council adopt 10 guiding principles, the first element of ICMM’s Sustainable Development Framework.

2004

GRI-ICMM Working Group completes Mining and Metals Sector Supplement to GRI 2002 Guidelines.

ICMM participates actively in the World Bank’s Extractive Industries Review (EIR) and endorses the final focus on sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

ICMM publishes Integrating Mining and Biodiversity Conservation.

2005

ICMM Council commits corporate members to report to the highest standards of non-financial reporting, that is “in accordance” with the GRI framework.

ICMM’s President joins the newly established World Bank Extractive Industries Advisory Group.

ICMM publishes the Community Development Toolkit, Mining and Indigenous Peoples Issues Review, Financial Assurance for Mine Closure and Reclamation, and Good Practice in Emergency Preparedness and Response.

2006

ICMM Council approves pilot assurance procedure for third party assurance of reporting in accordance with the GRI framework as well as implementation of tICMM's 10 principles.

ICMM hosts its inaugural conference on Safety & Health in Johannesburg.

ICMM publishes Resource Endowment Spotlight series and Phase 1 and 2 reports, Good Practice Guidance for Mining and Biodiversity, Maximizing Value, and Towards a Harmonized Approach to Setting Occupational Exposure Limits.

2007

ICMM publishes a report with feedback from ICMM's draft position statement on Mining and Indigenous Peoples issues.

ICMM holds a multi-stakeholder workshop culminating in the publication of a report, The Setting and Use of Occupational Exposure Limits - Current Practice in conjunction with the UK's Institute of Environment and Health (IEH).

ICMM publishes MERAG - metals environmental risk assessment guidance, HERAG - health risk assessment guidance, and Materials Stewardship, Eco-efficiency and Product Policy. It also co-sponsors the REACH Metals Gateway website with Eurometaux.