|
Corporate Social Responsibility
News
11.17.2004 ET
|
CSR News from:
|
|
|
News Category:
|
|
Leading Mining Companies Present at Major Conservation Forum
(CSRwire) The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the
representative body for many of the world's largest mining and metals
companies, will have an active presence at the World Conservation Forum.
The Forum is organised by IUCN - The World Conservation Union in Bangkok,
Thailand on 18-20 November 2004. The ICMM delegation will include Bobby
Godsell, CEO of AngloGold Ashanti and ICMM's Secretary General, Paul
Mitchell.
Leading mining companies believe that responsibly managed mining
operations can contribute positively to biodiversity conservation through
good biodiversity practices and through helping alleviate poverty. Their
participation in this event is grounded on their conviction that
biodiversity conservation and sustainable development require business,
governments and civil society to work collaboratively.
Paul Mitchell, ICMM Secretary General says:
"The mining industry recognises that, like many industrial sectors, it has
made mistakes in the past. We know that we still have a long way to go and
pledge to address the deep-rooted level of mistrust of our industry within
conservation circles. Our members are committed to keeping their negative
impacts to a minimum and believe that, if properly integrated into
regional development and biodiversity conservation strategies,
mineral-related investment can help alleviate poverty as well as foster
improvements in the health, education and standard of living of local and
indigenous communities."
Leading companies are pursuing onsite and offsite opportunities to enhance
their contributions to biodiversity conservation. These include assessments
and conservation of flora and fauna, research and development and support
for protected area site management programmes. A number of companies have
also established partnerships with conservation groups, and these are
beginning to deliver on-the-ground conservation outcomes.
ICMM will be involved in the following sessions:
Bobby Godsell will participate in a CEO Forum on "Corporate Response
to the Challenge of the World Conservation Forum" (Session 580, Thursday
18 November from 12.00 to 13.30 in Rooms 3 and 4)
Paul Mitchell will address the closing plenary of the Forum's
"Health, Poverty & Conservation" theme (Saturday 20 November from 09.00 to
11.30 in Plenary Hall 2)
ICMM will participate in "Looking for Conservation Solutions:
Business & Biodiversity Case Studies", a workshop under the Forum's
"Markets, Business & Environment" theme organised by Conservation
International (Session 270, Friday 19 November, 12.00 to 14.00 in Room
3)
ICMM will host "Mining and Metal Industry Contributions to
Biodiversity Conservation - Developing Good Practice Guidance," a
conservation platform to report back on the IUCN-ICMM dialogue and seek
feedback on the preparation of this document, which is being carried out
as part of the Dialogue to guide companies' biodiversity practices
(Session 331, Saturday 20 November, 12.00 to 14.00 in Room 3)
A publication compiling case studies of good practice in mining and
biodiversity and other materials will be available at the ICMM booth
(Plaza P22) and online at www.icmm.com/library_pub_detail.php?rcd=173.
Notes to Editors:
The International Council on Mining and Metals is a CEO-led organisation
dedicated to sustainable development. ICMM comprises many of the world's
leading mining and metals companies as well as regional, national and
commodity associations, all of which are committed to improving their
sustainable development performance and to the responsible production of
the mineral and metal resources society needs. ICMM's vision is a viable
mining, minerals and metals industry that is widely recognised as
essential for modern living and a key contributor to sustainable
development.
ICMM' 16 corporate members are:
Alcoa, Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton, Freeport-McMoRan,
Lonmin, Mitsubishi Materials, Newmont, Nippon Mining & Metals, Noranda,
Placer Dome, Rio Tinto, Sumitomo Metal Mining, Umicore, WMC Resources,
Zinifex.
ICMM's 27 association members are:
Chamber of Mines of South Africa, Consejo Minero, Eurometaux, Euromines,
Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, Indonesian Mining Association,
Industrial Minerals Association-Europe, Instituto Brasileiro de
Mineraçao, International Aluminium Institute, International Copper
Association, International Lead Zinc Research Organization, International
Wrought Copper Council, International Zinc Association, Japan Mining
Industry Association, Minerals Council of Australia, Mining Association of
Canada, Mining Industries Associations of Southern Africa, Nickel
Institute, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, Sociedad
Nacional de Minería y Petróleo, Sociedad Nacional de Minería, SveMin,
The Cobalt Development Institute, World Coal Institute.
About the IUCN-ICMM Dialogue
Set up in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the
Dialogue aims to improve the mining and metals industry's performance in
biodiversity conservation and to raise mutual awareness and understanding
between the industry and the conservation community.
The Dialogue provides a platform for communities, corporations,
non-governmental organisations, and governments to discuss and seek the
best balance between the protection of ecosystems and the social and
economic importance of mining.
IUCN and ICMM have committed themselves to facilitating this
discussion with the ultimate objective of enhancing the contribution of
the mining industry to biodiversity conservation.
About the "No-Go" pledge
ICMM corporate members issued a landmark position statement on mining and
protected areas in September 2003, which commits them "not to explore or
mine in World Heritage Sites". This statement establishes key precedents
for the mining and extractive industries at large. ICMM is currently
examining the possibility of developing a reporting requirement, which
would measure members' performance against their "no-go" commitment. For
more information or to read the full statement, visit www.icmm.com/biodiversity.
About the World Conservation Forum (WCF)
The Forum is the part of the IUCN's World Conservation Congress open to
non-IUCN members to discuss conservation and development issues at the
regional and global scales. Over 3,000 delegates are expected. The
Congress is the governing body of IUCN - The World Conservation Union. It
is held every four years and represents the world's largest democratic
environmental forum where governments and non-governmental organisations
jointly establish conservation priorities, guide the Union's policy and
approve its Programme.
|
|
