Newsletter: February 2024

Folks,

I got myself into some ‘good trouble’ at last year’s BMO Mining, Metals & Critical Minerals Conference where in my opening keynote I talked about trust in mining. Invited to open the event again this year, I was pleased to share the progress we’ve made and why – like the colour of my Nehru jacket – the outlook is bright!

We know that to transform our relationship with society and the perception of mining, we must consistently, meaningfully, and transparently demonstrate action on the issues that matter most to our stakeholders. One of which is our impact on nature.

I hope through our recent landmark commitment to support a nature positive future we are giving stakeholders reassurance that we can mine the minerals the world is going to need while taking care of our precious planet.

I also shared with the investors and companies at the Conference, ICMM’s collaboration with The Copper Mark, the World Gold Council, and the Mining Association of Canada to consolidate our four individual standards into one standard and multi-stakeholder oversight system.

This responds to the clear call we’ve heard from all parts of society to simplify the Standards landscape and promote the broadest possible uptake of responsible mining practices. The key to this effort is scale and you can read more about how we are working to achieve this and the action we are taking on nature in my update to the BMO conference, available in full here.

I look forward to connecting with many of you in the coming months – and you can keep up with where we will be on our website and as always, I love hearing from you so please keep in touch.

Warmly,
Ro

Features

Nature in the spotlight

Last month, ICMM launched its Nature: Position Statement at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, outlining our five-point plan for nature. This was followed at Mining Indaba by the unveiling of our flamingo sculpture. The first of many stops planned for the sculpture in the year ahead.

Created by British artist Alan Williams from recycled metals and reclaimed machine parts, the sculpture serves as a permanent reminder of the urgency and ambition that sit behind ICMM member’s commitments. Ultimately, the sculpture stands for three things:

Remembering the past: With the statue we want to acknowledge our past, the need to make good on what has been done and signal hope for the future.

Working to protect and restore nature today: Through the statue we recognise that it is only in harmony with nature that people and planet can ultimately thrive.

Creating a nature positive future: Reminding us that when we work collectively and with communities in support of nature, we can be more than the sum of our parts.

ICMM members are already taking action to contribute to a nature positive future for us all.

Find out more on our dedicated Nature Hub

—

Have Your Say: Mining and metals sector guidance from TNFD

The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has developed additional guidance to support mining and metals organisations to assess and disclose their nature-related risks, opportunities, impacts and dependencies. ICMM was the lead author of the draft sector guidance we encourage you and your constituents to comment before 29 March 2024 here.

—

Sustainability Leaders Podcast: The energy transition has brought transformation to the mining sector

Minerals and metals are essential to our current lives and even more so to the energy transition, but they cannot come at the expense of nature. So people are rightly looking to our industry just saying, ‘You have an impact on nature directly. You affect the land, you affect the air, you affect water, both fresh and ocean. And so please show us how are you going to mine these minerals we're going to need while taking care of our precious planet.’

Before Rohitesh Dhawan took to the stage to deliver his keynote speech on ‘Embracing Change, Building Trust’ at BMO’s 33rd Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference, he joined Colin Hamilton on their Sustainability Leaders podcast.

Listen to the podcast to hear discussion on our nature commitments and the urgent need to simplify the landscape of mining standards.

ICMM in the News

Letter: With mining, don’t confuse chronic and acute issues

Last week The Financial Times published a response from Rohitesh Dhawan to a Lex article entitled ‘Anglo American shows mining’s old economy problem’. In his response Ro points out the pitfalls of confusing chronic and acute issues.

Read Ro’s reply in full on the Financial Times (subscription required).

Connect With Us

Mines and Environment’s Mine Closure Conference
Perth, Australia • 15 March

Acting Environment Director Dr Emma Gagen will be speaking at the Mine Closure Conference on water stewardship throughout the life of a mine. Register here.

—

FT | Commodities Global Summit
Lausanne, Switzerland • 8 April

At the Financial Times Commodities Global summit this year, Ro Dhawan will join Geoff Streeton, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Eramet, Guillaume de Dardel, Head of Energy Transition Metals at Mercuria and Michael Wurmser, Founder at Norge Mining in discussing how fragmented geopolitics is impacting the demand and pricing of critical minerals.

Save 15% off in-person and digital passes. Use code: FTICMM and register here.

—

CESCO Week
Santiago, Chile • 15 – 18 April

Ro Dhawan will be giving the keynote address on the opening day of CESCO Week 2024, where he will focus on how mining, and copper specifically can contribute to sustainable development and the transition to a low carbon future. Find out more here.