Environment a top issue facing miners: ICMM

The following was released by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) regarding the results of its 2010 Stakeholders’ Views of Mining and Sustainable Development survey, available at www.icmm.com

The global survey confirms that environmental concerns (40%) closely followed by social concerns (28%) continue to be the top sustainable development issues for the mining and metals industry agenda.

The survey was conducted by GlobeScan on behalf of the ICMM, between August and September 2010. Over 800 respondents in 81 countries drawn from the private sector, public sector, institutions, academia, non- governmental organizations and the media participated.

Also receiving top mentions are other non- financial issues including governance and regulation matters (27%), water usage (17%), and resource access/management (16%). These opinions were commonly expressed across survey respondents.

As in a similar 2007 survey by the ICMM, respondents expect environmental and social concerns will continue to be important for the industry to address. Financial concerns (13%) are considered less serious than environmental and social issues. Meeting market demands is no longer a top mention, as it was in 2007.

The survey also suggests ICMM is having a major impact encouraging advances in sustainable development amongst its global members and broader industry. In particular, a strong majority of respondents (92%) believe ICMM is helping raise industry standards.

“ICMM is regarded unusually highly in terms of effectiveness and influence in raising the standards and performance of both its members and its industry,” said Rob Kerr, vice-president of GlobeScan, in a release.

“The results of the survey are encouraging. We often hear suggestions that the mining and metals industry falls short when it comes to sustainable development and responsible business practices, but the survey suggests that the work we are doing with our member companies to improve sustainable development performance is being recognized,” said ICMM president Anthony Hodge in a statement.

“However, this does not mean we should be complacent,” he said. “People are rightly telling us to reinforce our efforts to promote transparency, respect the values of surrounding communities and enhance the contribution of mining and metals to people and the environment.”