ICMM - International Council on Mining & Metals

NEWS

20.02.12
Key players assess mining’s contribution to sustainable development

Following on from the roadmap set out by the CEO panel (7 February 2012), on 9th February ICMM co-hosted a morning session at Investing in African Mining Indaba 2012 to discuss sustainable development issues with the wider mining, development and investment communities.

Over 600 executives, policy makers, civil society and higher education representatives came together to examine mining’s contribution to sustainable development. The session covered the challenges and opportunities of multi-stakeholder initiatives and the collaboration between mining companies and conservation organizations.

Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, Chair of Gold Fields and Executive Chair of Letsema Circle, opened proceedings with a compelling keynote speech. With her life-long commitment to Africa’s development and her first-hand knowledge of the industry as Chair of Gold Fields and Director of Anglo American, she was well-placed to address the role of the mining and metals industry in the context of the continent’s social and economic growth.

"It's very important that social responsibility moves beyond the CSR department in corporations,” said Mamphela Ramphele. “Most importantly, the industry needs to do a lot more to entrench sustainability in its operations if it is to minimize the risks of further regulatory interventions by governments.”

Dr. Ramphele’s address was followed by two interactive panels moderated by ICMM’s Aidan Davy. Key representatives from leading organizations working on multi-stakeholder initiatives included:

• Clare Short, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
• Hugh Elliott, Anglo American
• Monika Weber-Fahr, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Krista Hendry, The Fund for Peace

In a 45 minute exchange with members of the audience, panellists recognized the need for transparency in both companies and NGOs. They also signalled resource pooling as a way to prevent corruption. Other topics discussed included how civil society organizations can become relevant to the mining industry and how the industry must not try to reinvent the wheel and must work towards increased standardization.

The second session of the morning spoke to the linkages between mining companies and conservation organizations. Panellists included:

• Dennis Hosack, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Jon Hutton, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• Peter Cunningham, Rio Tinto
• Morné du Plessis, World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA)

Panellists made clear their commitments to biodiversity conservation in the mining sector, specifically highlighting the geographical impact of the extractives industry and that this, coupled with companies’ long term business goals, makes them good partners for conservation organizations. Speakers identified that in order to achieve a successful relationship, both parties must work through the differences in their organizations.