Panel Discussion at Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies SAIS

1. Panel Discussion at Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

2. 1 Data sources and disclaimer

3. 2 Sustainable development in mining

4. 3 Sustainable Development means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to develop

5. 4 In the late 1990s large western mining firms were facing a growing range of societal pressures

6. 5 Driving these issues were both project-specific controversies and deep-rooted public suspicions of mining �While those involved in the industry well appreciate the tremendous progress made in recent years in limiting the impact of mining on the environment, in developed countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States the public often does not�. Public perceptions of mining are critical to the industry's ability to grow and prosper, because they directly influence the community's preparedness to give the industry access to land.� � Warwick Parer, Australian minister for resources and energy, 1996

7. 6 Over the last decade, China�s urbanization resulted in surging demand for commodities and bourgeoning profits to the mining industry �

8. 7 � which accelerated exploration especially in developing regions �

9. 8 ... and pushed the boundaries of mining development to new frontiers, �

10. 9 � where we see old issues re-surfacing and new, increasingly complex societal issues emerging, with communities at center stage

11. 10 Sustainable development in mining

12. 11 The mining sector is however not homogeneous but comprises a wide range of players with different commitment to sustainability

13. 12 The activity of BRIC players grew rapidly over the past 10 yearsUS$ trillions

14. 13 Leading mining companies often engage public and politicians to proactively shape the regulatory debate �

15. 14 � because they recognize the competitive advantage in accessing resources that can come from leading in sustainability

16. 15 Sustainable development in mining

17. 16 Sustainable development can be reinforced by formal and informal levers � the mix applied depends on the nature of the project, its owner, the local and national context

18. 17 Laws and regulations: sustainability regulation is underway

19. 18 Financial institutions may choose to provide financial support based on how companies perform on sustainability

20. 19 NGOs and communities can use the financial sector to force their hand on the mining industry in sustainability debates

21. 20 Media-savvy NGOs increased the level of scrutiny in the mining sector and raise societal expectations

22. 21 The mining industry collaborated internally and with stakeholders to agree voluntary principles of good mining company conduct

23. 22 There has been a significant piling-up of voluntary initiatives over the past 15 years �

24. 23 � which differ in functional, geographical, topical and commodity scope

25. 24 Roadblocks along the initiative-delivery process sometimes hamper the effectiveness or the wider spread of VPs