The PDAC is developing a Sustainable Development Framework for Exploration and has organized a one-day workshop on February 29, to provide its members with an opportunity to comment on an early draft of its initial components.
Workshop Background and Content
The mining industry has recognized the importance of conducting business in an environmentally and socially responsible manner in order to earn and maintain a “social licence to operate” and be a positive participant in the global quest for corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. There are, however, significant challenges to the practical application of these objectives, not the least of which is the absence of a broadly recognized and accepted set of definitions, guidelines and benchmarks. In response to this, and building on its very successful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Workshop held in 2007, the PDAC is in the process of developing a Sustainable Development Framework for Exploration.
Development will occur in two stages – Track 1: Principles and Performance Guidelines for environmental and social issues, and Track 2: Reporting and Verification. It is our objective to have an early draft of Track 1: Principles and Performance Guidelines completed and ready for use by exploration teams by the summer of 2008. However, prior to that we want to provide our members and other stakeholders with an interest in the subject matter with the opportunity to be actively engaged in the development of the Framework in order to ensure its usability and practicality on the ground at the sites of operations.
The one-day workshop in Toronto will provide a forum for the review, discussion and refinement of an early draft of Track 1: Principles and Performance Guidelines.
The focus of this one-day workshop will be:
* Understanding the nature of Corporate Social Responsibility, the drivers behind it, and the relationship to Sustainable Development;
* Defining and refining Principles and Performance Guidelines for mineral exploration and development projects, and;
* Optimizing the implementation of the Framework within the life cycle of an exploration project – from initial reconnaissance and prospecting to full feasibility.
Who Should Attend
The workshop is designed for exploration practitioners and managers of exploration programs. It will also be of interest to key stakeholders including environmental and development NGOs, indigenous peoples, investment professionals, academics, and government and community representatives. It follows on from a similar workshop held in Vancouver on January 24, 2008.
To Participate
Due to its interactive nature, the workshop will be limited to 80 participants, and participation will be by invitation only. There will be no fee for this workshop, but all participants will be required to pre-register (there will be no on-site registration). To indicate your interest in participating, please email your name, position title, affiliation, email address and phone number to sdfx2008@pdac.ca. Your reply is requested as soon as possible and no later than February 1, 2008.
ONE-DAY WORKSHOP BY INVITATION ONLY
LIMITED TO 80 PARTICIPANTS
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