Abstract
The social license to operate has become the top rated risk by mining executives in an industry struggling to manage the reputational burden from the past. On the environmental side, mere compliance is no longer sufficient to win support by local stakeholders and the larger investment community. Investment dollars are flowing where an ESG kosher project development can be achieved.
Mining is therefore facing unprecedented challenges, above and beyond just technical complexity. But the global footprint, more specifically the industry’s presence in undeveloped and under developed regions offers unique opportunities to drive change for sustainable growth. - If done right we can evolve from ESG risk to ESG opportunity.
This presentation will touch on the 17 UN Sustainable Development goals, share success stories and recent approaches across the industry to solve those pressing issues in a balanced approach weighing economic development, environmental protection and social aspects. Our purpose in business is to create economic value while creating shared value for society, thereby allowing far broader opportunities to rise and driving the next wave of innovation, productivity, and economic growth.
The presentation will conclude with opportunities for product differentiation as a result of transparency and traceability.