ICMM

Metals and minerals aren’t just essential for the energy transition and global development, they’re also the materials for much fun and (Olympic) games🏅 Across track and field, they support performance, durability and innovation. Responsible mining ensures that these materials are produced in ways that minimise negative impacts and maximise positive contributions to sustainable development. Learn about how ICMM members are #MiningWithPrinciples here: https://lnkd.in/eYi6hgEi

To get to net zero by 2050, we need around 3 billion tonnes of metals and minerals – the equivalent of 300,000 Eiffel Towers – with even more required for the construction of sustainable cities, industries and infrastructure. Adopting circular principles in the ways they are produced and used is essential to meet this demand. Our industry is expert at reducing waste and using innovation to increase use of renewable energy and manage water wisely. Find out how: https://lnkd.in/e2hhAP5B Boliden • Rio Tinto • Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. • Vale

Unsustainable use of nature is undermining the health of our planet, people and our economic resilience. The assessment and disclosures framework and sector guidance developed by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has the promise to be a game changer for how companies and investors engage on nature, by putting nature-related considerations at the heart of company board-level discussions and reporting. Read Aidan Davy’s analysis in the FT’s Sustainable Views, including the importance of companies adopting a double materiality approach in their assessments and disclosures: https://lnkd.in/gagBXyt2

🌍#EarthOvershootDay reminds us of the urgent need to address our ecological footprint and the unsustainable rate at which we collectively consume natural resources. As we strive for a sustainable future, it's estimated that 300 new mine sites will be needed to provide the critical materials required for renewable energy, electric transport, and sustainable cities. This demand cannot be met by recycling alone. The mining and metals industry is deeply connected to nature, and we recognise the importance of playing our part to change the system. That's why our members have developed a 5-point plan for a #NaturePositive future and are investing in improving circularity initiatives.🌱There's an immense #PowerOfPossibility that can be found around us, and our members are working to implement solutions at scale.💡Learn more at nature.icmm.com.

This is the post that leaves the biggest hole in my heart. Every year for over a decade, ICMM has annually published the safety data of our members. And every year, we are at a loss for words to recognise the pain of those injured at work and of families who lost someone. Risk is inherent in mining, but harm must not be. In 2023, 36 colleagues at ICMM member companies lost their lives at work. This compares to 33 in 2022. Up to then, there was a downward trend in the number of fatalities and serious injury frequency since ICMM began publishing data in 2012. While in no way a cause for celebration, it represented progress.  Sadly, the increase in fatalities in 2023 underscores that there is no room for complacency, and we share this report each year with the intention of encouraging knowledge-sharing, transparency and continual performance improvement across the whole industry. By being open and honest, we can see that most of these fatalities are preventable. With the proper identification and execution of critical controls, they should not have happened.  This shows that in health and safety, there’s no technical ‘silver bullet’ that will make everything right. It is something that needs to be looked at afresh each day. With this in mind, we need to relook at how we foster stronger safety cultures across workforces that cascade to every corner and facet of operations. Go to a mine site and you should instantly be aware that there’s a correct way of doing things, from walking a designated path in the car park to wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment. For the uninitiated, these precautions could be thought of as excessive, but they are the result of decades of learning. The mining and metals industry is remarkable for its scale, with mines as deep as 4km underground and spanning thousands of kilometres of tunnels, trucks the size of houses and all manner of crushers, conveyors and furnaces. These operations are engineering marvels to behold, but they also present risk to workers and the surrounding communities. This is why health and safety is, and must always be, our primary focus. As we look to the future and ICMM’s 2025+ strategy, we are renewing our focus on identifying the reasons behind ‘why’ these incidents continue to happen, to share learnings that can drive the progress needed to eliminate fatalities from all operations.  The road may be longer than we’d hoped, but we are more determined than ever to get there. My thanks to Michael Duvenhage who has led this work extremely ably, and to the ICMM Health & Safety Working Group for their long-standing commitment and contribution.

Today, we have published our annual Safety Performance Report. ICMM members are unwavering in their commitment to operate responsibly, as they work to eliminate fatalities towards a goal of zero harm. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/evmsawjj

How can mining companies leverage innovation to facilitate social transitioning at closure?   Peter Whitbread-Abrutat, co-author of 102 things to do with a hole in the ground, has posed the very same question. "We need to think long term for success. A mine is just one short chapter in a landscape’s narrative, and while closure represents the end of that chapter, it should also mark the start of the next interesting, vibrant instalment."   ICMMs Integrated Mine Closure Good Practice Guide supports an opportunity-based, iterative closure process that can facilitate innovation to support best-practice social transition for mine operators and stakeholders alike. https://lnkd.in/g8tim6sZ

Our alumina refinery in Brazil is already amongst the best in the world in terms of CO2 emissions, but we're pushing further. Follow our journey to net zero by 2040 through renewable energy and innovation.

A circular economy challenges the ‘throw-away' consumption of today, in favour of a future that maximises the value of what we have. Metals are at the heart of this journey. Find out how we are working to support the responsible production, use and recovery of metals: https://lnkd.in/g9fYmi5J

Half the winners of the 2024 Goldman Environment Prize successfully opposed extractives projects. As a mining industry, we should celebrate this. As a proud representative of the mining industry, why would I say that? Because of two reasons. First, because open and healthy civic space is essential for thriving societies. We can disagree strongly on what activities we think are in society's best interests and how to best use available resources for the collective good - but must always hold the space for open and safe debate, and civic space has unfortunately been shrinking in many parts of the world. That should worry any responsible company or industry. Of course, under no circumstances is violence, threat, intimidation or illegality from any side ever permissible or excusable, and anyone doing such things should feel the full weight of the law. Which brings me to my second reason for celebrating the prize winners. They used the legal system to achieve their desired outcome. Ultimately, when there are competing rights and interests - as there often are and increasingly will be - the State has to manage those trade-offs and compromises. And every actor in that process must then respect and accept that decision (including of course having the right to appeal etc as provided). We need to be mindful that not all States have the will and/or capacity to be genuine and honest brokers, but these prize winners show that many systems around the world are alive and well. I have previously acknowledged that the ICMM Mining Principles are not explicit on the issue of Human Rights Defenders within the context of our overarching strong commitments on Human Rights. We are working on this, and I hope to share more soon. Goldman Environmental Prize