The State of Nature Positive for mining and metals - transcript

“I speak on behalf of 26 of the world’s largest mining companies that belong to ICMM. As we supply the metals and minerals to produce the electric vehicles and wind turbines needed for a net zero economy, we are committed to doing so in ways that protect and preserve nature.

In our journey towards nature positive, we are guided by 3 key dates. The first of those is in the past; 2003 - when ICMM companies voluntarily committed to not mine or prospect in World Heritage Sites.  No matter how rich the mineral reserves or how great the need, we believe that these areas should be ‘no go’ for mining or any other industrial activity. If any of the companies present here today operate in World Heritage Sites, please, I ask you to join us in keeping these critical areas completely off limits.

The second date is now; the present moment. Even though mining disturbs less than half of 1 percent of the world’s land, that is often in ecologically sensitive areas. We take our responsibility to managing our own impacts very seriously, and are committed to applying the mitigation hierarchy towards the ambition of no net loss to biodiversity where we operate.

Finally, we look ahead to 2030, where we strongly support the goal of a nature positive world. Several ICMM mine sites are already committed to net positive impacts on biodiversity by 2030 or sooner and all ICMM companies are committed to net zero scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. We are working hard with partners including TNFD to define nature positive for the mining sector as a whole, particularly at a landscape level.

Ultimately, it is estimated that nearly half the world’s GDP is directly dependent on nature. Well, we as the mining industry are 100% dependent on nature. Metals and minerals are nature’s gift to humanity, so we see protecting nature as not only a business imperative, but our fundamental obligation.”