UNEP
The global economy depends on the flow of materials that are extracted from the earth,
processed via production and consumption processes to meet human needs, and disbursed
as wastes generated by the extraction, production and consumption. The mining sector is a
strategically important sector that provides resources that are required for economic
development. Over the last century, the extractions of construction minerals increased by a
factor of 34 while the extraction of ores/industrial minerals increased by a factor of 271.
While the availability of a rich mineral resource base provides unique development
opportunities, the expansion of the sector in most mineral-rich developing nations has led to
sub-optimal economic outcomes and underutilization of its potential contribution to
sustainable development. This is mainly due to the undervaluation of resources, the
ineffective redistribution of benefits between the companies, the states and the local
communities, and the weak economic inter-linkages of the mining sector with the broader
national economy.
UNEP is very much concerned by the increased level of environmental destruction and
impacts on basic ecosystem services and biodiversity due to the expansion of mining
operations into environmentally sensitive and fragile areas, as well as the important use of
chemicals, energy and water . Moreover, weak closure and post closure provisions are
leading to an increased number of abandoned and/or orphan mining sites around the
world. The allocation of mineral exploration rights therefore needs to be based on full
strategic sustainability assessments that include the fulfillment of national development
goals and other regional and international commitments and obligations, the social and
economic benefits for national economies and local communities and comprehensive
closure and post-closure management plans. The management of waste from the extractive
industries should also include the reuse or recycling of materials and minerals in waste
(urban mining), which would increase resource efficiency.
The number of industrial accidents resulting in serious negative environmental, health and
economic impacts in mining communities is still a growing source of concern in most
countries. Hence there is a growing need to enhance the capacity of the mining sector to
develop and implement industrial accident prevention and preparedness programmes
including the promotion of Awareness and Preparedness for Emergency at the local level,
known as APELL.
The spontaneous and unorganized expansion of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) and
the continued alienation of the sector in most developing countries are causing significant
damage to the environment. The environmental and human risks posed by the unsafe
handling of hazardous chemicals in the Artisanal and Small Scale Mining sector is also
causing significant damage to local communities. The positive contribution of Artisanal and
Small Scale Mining to sustainable poverty reduction at the community level could be
ensured through a consolidated formal engagement and support to the sector, together
with a comprehensive system for capacity building and participatory consultation
mechanism involving concerned stakeholders and local communities.
The overall challenge faced by the international community is to develop a comprehensive,
global approach to mining in the context of low carbon/green economy that:
(i) makes a macro-economic case for investments in sustainable mining, focusing on
elements such as impact on employment, poverty alleviation, health, GDP growth
and resource efficiency
(ii) informs on how to address challenges and opportunities to mining such as
efficient resource use, energy use in a climate mitigation and adaptation context,
management of toxic substances, protection of ecosystems, labor conditions and
relationships with communities, financial and technical risk, drivers and opportunities
for sustainable industrial production
(iii) fosters demand-side pressure, business self-regulation, and green supply chain
management thorough the application and development of good practices for the
improvement of local economic, social and environmental conditions such as
Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility (CESR).
A global CESR framework for mining along the supply chain (based on the Global Reporting
Initiative) and its wider application by all mining operators would facilitate the
mainstreaming of CESR in strategic planning and development of the mineral sector,
including through financing institutions. Industry-based initiatives such as the International
Cyanide Management Initiative could be useful building blocks for such an effort.
Global Initiative for Sustainable Mining
The sustainability of the mining sector can only be ensured through the development and
implementation of comprehensive strategies that enhance its contribution to the
sustainable development of the countries that own the resource through an effective
promotion of economic interlinkages resulting in an equitable management of the global
value chain.
In order to facilitate the transition towards sustainable mining, the feasibility of launching a
?Global Initiative for Sustainable Mining? should be considered. The overall purpose of such
initiative would be to:
? Facilitate policy dialogue between the public and private sectors and international
development institutions;
? Assist the development of sustainable mining regimes based on existing good practices
and new innovative approaches;
? Promote the development of product standards and recognition mechanisms that
facilitate the greening of mineral products;
? Encourage increased and efficient reuse and recycling of metals and mineral products
that can form the basis for more efficient urban mining practices.
Such an initiative will provide a platform for concerned stakeholders throughout the supply
chain, consolidating the basis for an enabling framework and conditions, at public and
market level, with the necessary legislations, market instruments and information tools.
Finally in the context of the UNEP International Panel on Sustainable Resource Management,
an important is actually going on in relation to the flows of metals and minerals , and how
critical are and will be some of them for the world economy, mainly when considering the
very limited recycling level for some of the metals and minerals that will drive tomorrow?s
economy. Consequently, decoupling, resource productivity and resource efficiency should
also be driving the mining sector if to become a partner to national and local development,
in the context of green mining, green industry and green economy.
processed via production and consumption processes to meet human needs, and disbursed
as wastes generated by the extraction, production and consumption. The mining sector is a
strategically important sector that provides resources that are required for economic
development. Over the last century, the extractions of construction minerals increased by a
factor of 34 while the extraction of ores/industrial minerals increased by a factor of 271.
While the availability of a rich mineral resource base provides unique development
opportunities, the expansion of the sector in most mineral-rich developing nations has led to
sub-optimal economic outcomes and underutilization of its potential contribution to
sustainable development. This is mainly due to the undervaluation of resources, the
ineffective redistribution of benefits between the companies, the states and the local
communities, and the weak economic inter-linkages of the mining sector with the broader
national economy.
UNEP is very much concerned by the increased level of environmental destruction and
impacts on basic ecosystem services and biodiversity due to the expansion of mining
operations into environmentally sensitive and fragile areas, as well as the important use of
chemicals, energy and water . Moreover, weak closure and post closure provisions are
leading to an increased number of abandoned and/or orphan mining sites around the
world. The allocation of mineral exploration rights therefore needs to be based on full
strategic sustainability assessments that include the fulfillment of national development
goals and other regional and international commitments and obligations, the social and
economic benefits for national economies and local communities and comprehensive
closure and post-closure management plans. The management of waste from the extractive
industries should also include the reuse or recycling of materials and minerals in waste
(urban mining), which would increase resource efficiency.
The number of industrial accidents resulting in serious negative environmental, health and
economic impacts in mining communities is still a growing source of concern in most
countries. Hence there is a growing need to enhance the capacity of the mining sector to
develop and implement industrial accident prevention and preparedness programmes
including the promotion of Awareness and Preparedness for Emergency at the local level,
known as APELL.
The spontaneous and unorganized expansion of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) and
the continued alienation of the sector in most developing countries are causing significant
damage to the environment. The environmental and human risks posed by the unsafe
handling of hazardous chemicals in the Artisanal and Small Scale Mining sector is also
causing significant damage to local communities. The positive contribution of Artisanal and
Small Scale Mining to sustainable poverty reduction at the community level could be
ensured through a consolidated formal engagement and support to the sector, together
with a comprehensive system for capacity building and participatory consultation
mechanism involving concerned stakeholders and local communities.
The overall challenge faced by the international community is to develop a comprehensive,
global approach to mining in the context of low carbon/green economy that:
(i) makes a macro-economic case for investments in sustainable mining, focusing on
elements such as impact on employment, poverty alleviation, health, GDP growth
and resource efficiency
(ii) informs on how to address challenges and opportunities to mining such as
efficient resource use, energy use in a climate mitigation and adaptation context,
management of toxic substances, protection of ecosystems, labor conditions and
relationships with communities, financial and technical risk, drivers and opportunities
for sustainable industrial production
(iii) fosters demand-side pressure, business self-regulation, and green supply chain
management thorough the application and development of good practices for the
improvement of local economic, social and environmental conditions such as
Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility (CESR).
A global CESR framework for mining along the supply chain (based on the Global Reporting
Initiative) and its wider application by all mining operators would facilitate the
mainstreaming of CESR in strategic planning and development of the mineral sector,
including through financing institutions. Industry-based initiatives such as the International
Cyanide Management Initiative could be useful building blocks for such an effort.
Global Initiative for Sustainable Mining
The sustainability of the mining sector can only be ensured through the development and
implementation of comprehensive strategies that enhance its contribution to the
sustainable development of the countries that own the resource through an effective
promotion of economic interlinkages resulting in an equitable management of the global
value chain.
In order to facilitate the transition towards sustainable mining, the feasibility of launching a
?Global Initiative for Sustainable Mining? should be considered. The overall purpose of such
initiative would be to:
? Facilitate policy dialogue between the public and private sectors and international
development institutions;
? Assist the development of sustainable mining regimes based on existing good practices
and new innovative approaches;
? Promote the development of product standards and recognition mechanisms that
facilitate the greening of mineral products;
? Encourage increased and efficient reuse and recycling of metals and mineral products
that can form the basis for more efficient urban mining practices.
Such an initiative will provide a platform for concerned stakeholders throughout the supply
chain, consolidating the basis for an enabling framework and conditions, at public and
market level, with the necessary legislations, market instruments and information tools.
Finally in the context of the UNEP International Panel on Sustainable Resource Management,
an important is actually going on in relation to the flows of metals and minerals , and how
critical are and will be some of them for the world economy, mainly when considering the
very limited recycling level for some of the metals and minerals that will drive tomorrow?s
economy. Consequently, decoupling, resource productivity and resource efficiency should
also be driving the mining sector if to become a partner to national and local development,
in the context of green mining, green industry and green economy.
Stakeholders