Stakeholder Newsletter: June 2023
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Greetings from Australia and the 26th World Mining Congress in Brisbane! There is a generally very upbeat mood among the 3,000 or so people gathered here, but also some sobering realities.
Amidst a huge focus on critical minerals and Australia’s ambitions for growth, we have been presented with some startling numbers: 70 per cent of respondents aged 15- to 30-years-old said they definitely wouldn’t or probably wouldn’t want to work in mining. This, combined with the drop in enrolments in mining degrees that we’re seeing around the world, is concerning for our ability to grow the supply of minerals needed to power the energy transition.
Things need to change, and that starts with us. Last year, we updated the ICMM Mining Principles with additional actions that members will individually take to improve diversity, equity and inclusion. Building on these, I was pleased to announce at the World Mining Congress ICMM’s new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Position Statement that sets out the collective actions we will take as a membership.
The scale of our ambition is both bold and necessary: eradicate discrimination, harassment and assault from our workplaces, and build diverse, equitable and inclusive environments.
Working collectively, ICMM members will take four steps by the end of 2024:
1. Accelerate Action
2. Set Goals
3. Increase Transparency
4. Collaborate with External Stakeholders
As I said to the Wall Street Journal’s Rhyannon Hoyle recently, these steps are an essential part of building our workforce, and building trust with society.
I believe these collective commitments are the first on diversity, equity & inclusion of this scale and coverage of any sector. I sincerely hope it doesn’t stay that way for long.
I am also pleased to announce that ICMM continues to grow. The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) has joined ICMM as an association member. We have a very positive history of working collaboratively with AusIMM to promote leading practice on environment, social and governance issues in our industry and we look forward to their contributions to the membership.
Warmly,
Ro
Features
Welcoming AusIMM as our latest member
The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy has joined ICMM as an association member.
Stephen Durkin, CEO of AusIMM, said: “This cements an already strong and collaborative relationship between our organisations. This will enable us to share insights and drive leading practice to make our industry safer and more sustainable.”
AusIMM has become ICMM’s 40th association member, joining 25 company members and 39 associations that represent different commodities, national jurisdictions and professional groups.
The opportunity to contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework
Nature and biodiversity loss is occurring at an alarming pace. Species extinction rates are 100 – 1,000 times the historical norm, with a huge acceleration in the last 150 years.
When world leaders met in Montreal for COP15 in December 2022, they set out clear goals and targets to align global efforts to protect all life on Earth through the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Our latest fact sheet outlines how ICMM members are uniquely placed to deliver on a wide number of targets in the framework, and the work currently being undertaken as part of our nature positive agenda. Find out more here.
ICMM announces collective commitment to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the mining industry
This week ICMM announced a new collective commitment by members to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the mining and metals industry and positively influence the communities that mining companies are a part of.
ICMM members have committed to work together to improve the experience of all workers and eradicate discrimination, harassment, and assault from our workplaces.
Tom Palmer, CEO of Newmont, said: “Working collectively as a membership and with others to overcome the barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion, we can eliminate harmful behaviours from our workplaces, and influence positive cultural change in communities and across society.”
Elizabeth Broderick, Special Rapporteur and Independent Expert of the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls, said: “If we don’t actively and intentionally include women, the system will unintentionally exclude them. The reason for this is that the systems in the mining industry were invented by men, for men and even today are largely run by men. Forcing women into systems and cultures designed for men is not an effective strategy to build greater levels of diversity and inclusion. The solution lies in shifting the systems rather than fixing the women.”
Find out more about the commitment here.
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Companies should move quickly to measure their reliance on critical minerals
"We’ve done some modelling, and it’s pretty clear that we are not going to reach net zero without significant mining," said Mike Werner, Google’s Head of Circular Economy.
In this GreenBiz article, Werner notes the importance of ethical and sustainable mining in the company’s net zero goals, and mentions ICMM’s resources on promoting a circular economy in the industry.
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Mistrust in mining should worry us all
The mining industry has failed to earn the broad-based trust of society. In Ro Dhawan’s latest article for Euractiv, he outlines our two most urgent tasks to correct the trust deficit: upholding responsible mining standards at all times and making them reach all corners of the mining industry.
Upcoming Events
Women in Mining Summit 2023
Brisbane, Australia • 8 -10 August
The Women in Mining Summit is an opportunity to hear from women working at the forefront of the industry. ICMM Mine Closure and Water Manager Dr Emma Gagen will be sharing her insights on the impact of evolving ESG strategies in mining and how leveraging sustainable mining practices through increased awareness and growing efforts to protect the environment are reshaping mining. Register here.
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EXPOSIBRAM
Belém, Brazil • 28 - 31 August
Ro Dhawan will be at the Brazilian Mining Expo and Congress (EXPOSIBRAM), discussing sustainability and mining. Register here.
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FT Mining Summit – Minerals of the Future
London, UK, and virtual • 5 – 6 October
Investment in the mining industry is critical for the world to produce the vast quantities of minerals and metals needed for the energy transition. As the uncertain global economic outlook presents challenges, how will the industry work to realign production and distribution to fit the new macro environment? Ro Dhawan will be speaking at the FT Mining Summit. Register here.
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