Annual Report, 2010
Constructive dialogue and transparency are of fundamental importance to ICMM’s progress as an organization. ICMM was established to address sustainable development challenges in the mining and metals industry. The belief that no one party can solve such challenges alone continues to be critical to ICMM’s success today.
Collaboration is one of our core values, and it is through collaboration that ICMM can act as a change agent to enhance our contribution to sustainable development. For example, ICMM’s proactive engagement with external stakeholders, including the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the World Bank and others, has been both productive and mutually beneficial for everyone involved.
Equally important is the dialogue among ICMM’s member companies and the industry as a whole. By sharing experiences and best practices, companies are able to learn what works and what does not work on the ground and use that knowledge to enhance the positive benefits for the communities in which we operate.
Another of ICMM’s core values is accountability – to do what we say we will do and uphold our commitments. This belief in transparency is best illustrated by the progress made by companies in meeting their commitments as ICMM members (see chart on pages 10–11). Over the last 12 months, we have seen greater external recognition that member companies are implementing ICMM’s 10 sustainable development principles, reporting an adherence to them and seeking independent assurance of those reports.
During 2010, ICMM has made substantive progress in a number of areas. The publication of the Good Practice Guide: Indigenous Peoples and Mining is one example. The guide is an important milestone that will benefit the entire industry by promoting meaningful engagement and dialogue between industry participants and indigenous communities.
Another important highlight is the continuing work of the Resource Endowment initiative, through which companies, governments, aid organizations and local communities work together to ensure that a nation’s mineral wealth has a positive impact on economic development and poverty reduction. A number of countries have shown an interest in the examples and case studies that have emerged from our research. It is this collaborative approach that we seek to use in all of our projects.
While progress has been achieved in 2010, many challenges remain. ICMM continued to work on benchmarking safety and occupational health performance in 2010 encouraging ICMM member companies and others to raise the bar on safety performance and minimize health risks. We need to push further in this important area. In 2011, we will develop ICMM’s health and safety work program, to promote positive change in our own organizations and to lead the industry by example.
Climate change is another significant issue. We will continue external and internal discussions – that began in 2010 – on the leadership role of the mining and metals industry in seeking innovative solutions to address this issue. We will be demonstrating our commitment to making a positive contribution to the climate change debate through active engagement in the international arena on this issue.
As we move forward through this year and beyond, ICMM will remain instrumental in strengthening environmental and social practices, and fulfilling its goal to improve its members’ contribution to sustainable development.
Richard Adkerson
Chair, ICMM