responsible mining
Responsible mining is commonly defined as mining that involves and respects all stakeholders, minimizes and takes account of its environmental impact, and prioritizes a fair division of economic and financial benefits.{{cite book|last = Bice|first = Sara|title = Responsible Mining: Key Principles for Industry Integrity|publisher = Routledge |year = 2016|isbn = 9781317658153}}{{cite journal|last1= Broad|first1= Robin|year= 2014|title= Responsible mining: Moving from a buzzword to real responsibility|journal= The Extractive Industries and Society|volume= 1|issue= 1|pages= 4–6|publisher= Elsevier|doi= 10.1016/j.exis.2014.01.001|url= https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214790X14000082|url-access= subscription}}{{cite book|last1 =Arvanitidis|first1 =Nikolaos|last2 =Boon|first2 =Jan|last3 =Nurmi|first3 =Pekka|last4 =Di Capua|first4 =Giuseppe|title =White Paper on Responsible Mining|publisher =International Association for Promoting Geoethics|year =2017|url=https://www.geoethics.org/wp-responsible-mining}} There is a strong focus on stakeholder engagement, involving governments and the affected communities.
The underlying principles are based on existing international agreements, such as the Rio Declaration and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), involving polluter responsibility, equity, participatory decision making and accountability and transparency.{{cite book|last1 = Miranda|first1 = Marta|last2 = Chambers|first2 = David|last3 = Coumans|first3 = Catherine|title = Framework for Responsible Mining: A Guide to Evolving Standards |year = 2005 | url=https://ceaa-acee.gc.ca/B4777C6B-docs/WP-1785-034.pdf}} Because the Earth contains a finite amount of minerals – making mining a finite activity – the term responsible mining is preferred over sustainable mining.{{cite book|last = Jarvie-Eggart|first = Michelle, E.|title = Responsible Mining: Case Studies in Managing Social & Environmental Risks in the Developed World.|publisher = SME|year = 2015|isbn = 9780873353731}} In practice, responsible mining has different interpretations, referring to advocacy to reform mining activity, as well as to a marketing strategy used by mining companies to promote their operations as environmentally or socially sound. Goals may vary by group.
Responsible mining first appeared in an article entitled "Re-inhabitory Mining""Re-inhabitory Mining", City Miner, 1979, Vol.4, No.1, Berkeley, California and next in another article titled "Ecological Mining"."Ecological Mining", Restoring the Earth Conference, Berkeley, California, in Modern Gold Miner & Treasure Hunter, Nov./Dec., 1988 The term "Responsible Mining" is also claimed as having been formulated by Ranil Senanayake of the International Analog Forestry Network and Brian Hill of the Institute for Cultural Ecology.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}
Overview
The mining and mineral industry produces necessary components for use in people’s daily lives.{{cite web|url=https://www.mn.undp.org/content/mongolia/en/home/library/training-manual-on-responsible-mining.html |title=Training manual on responsible mining |author=Byambajav Dalaibuyan, Munkhzul Dorjsuren, Vigya Sharma, Usukhbayar Sainjargal, Ivan Gyozo Somlai, Gerelt-Od Erdenebileg|date=18 March 2019|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|accessdate=18 December 2020}}
Additionally, this industry plays a large role in many developing countries – such as Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Philippines, and Angola, yet has historically created a negative relationship between economic dependence and natural resources and GDP. Companies operating in the mining and minerals industry navigate market demand for essential components and society’s expectations of social and environmental responsibility.{{cite book
|last =Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development|title =Breaking New Ground: The Report of the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project|publisher =Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development|year =2002|isbn =1-85383-907-8}}
Local communities expect that the risks and impacts of mining are compensated with employment and infrastructure benefits. The industry is also expected to avoid ecologically and culturally sensitive sites, and to produce safe products that do not violate environmental and social standards. In 1998, representatives from ten of the world’s largest mining corporations congregated at the Global Mining Initiative to address the negative attention surrounding the industry.{{cite book|last =Bice|first =Sara|title =Responsible Mining: Key Principles for Industry Integrity|publisher =Routledge |year =2016|isbn =9781317658153}} Their 2002 report found that the industry has damaged communities and ecosystems throughout the world, but there is also the potential to generate larger and quicker profits while supporting the community and the environment if mining activities are managed appropriately.{{cite journal|last1=Goodland|first1=Robert|year=2012|title=Responsible Mining: The Key to Profitable Resource Development
|journal=Sustainability|volume=4|issue=9|pages=2099–2126|doi=10.3390/su4092099|doi-access=free}}
If managed irresponsibly, the mining and minerals industry can foster economic growth and development at the detriment of society and the environment. This can include environmental degradation, displaced populations, and local conflicts. However, responsible mining can create economic growth and development by managing an equitable distribution of mining benefits amongst affected stakeholders.
Media coverage
The Nation was critical of the concept in a February 2010 article by Matt Kennard titled "How Responsible Is Socially Responsible Mining?".{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100301/kennard|title=How Sustainable is Socially Responsible Mining?|last=Kennard|first=Matt|date=February 17, 2010|work=The Nation|accessdate=April 18, 2010}}
Meanwhile, The New York Times has covered the marketing of jewelry made of 'responsibly-mined' gold{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/fashion/thursdaystyles/with-this-ethical-ring-i-thee-wed.html|title=With This Ethical Ring I Thee Wed (Published 2006)|first=Kirk|last=Johnson|date=April 6, 2006|via=NYTimes.com}} and the Pew Campaign's efforts to change the 1872 mining law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/opinion/20mon2.html|title=Opinion | Unchanged (for the Worse) Since 1872 (Published 2007)|date=August 20, 2007|via=NYTimes.com}}
References
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External links
- [http://shapingsustainablemarkets.iied.org/alliance-responsible-mining-fairmined-standard Profile page on database of market governance mechanisms]