ICMM was founded in 2001, as a CEO-led leadership organization, to improve
sustainable development
Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...
performance in the mining and metals industry.
Sustainable Development
In late 1998 a small group of mining industry CEOs came together to question how the sector could grow its contribution to sustainable development. Through the
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led organization of over 200 international companies. The Council is also connected to 60 national and regional business councils and partner organizations.
Its origins d ...
(WBCSD), they commissioned the
International Institute for Environment and Development
International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations".
International may also refer to:
Music Albums
* ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011
* ''International'' (New Order album), 2002
* ''International'' (The T ...
(IIED) to explore the role of the sector in the transition to sustainable development. Over the course of two years, a team of IIED researchers reviewed existing initiatives and materials, and consulted more than 150 separate individuals and organisations to understand their views of how the minerals sector's contribution could be improved. This process came to be known as the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project (MMSD).
What emerged was an agenda for change that would enhance mining and metals’ contribution to sustainable development. MMSD concluded in May 2002 with the signing of th
Toronto Declaration where it was agreed that ICMM should take over responsibilities from MMSD for the mainstreaming of sustainable development for the mining and metals industry.
ICMM's Mining Principles
All company members are represented on ICMM's Council by their CEOs and on various committees by nominated representatives, where they work collaboratively to enhance the contribution of mining and metals to sustainable development. This commitment is enshrined in ICMM's company member admission processes, which is overseen by an independent third-party review panel.
Since the inception of ICMM in 2001, the expectations of company members have evolved from an informal set of expectations to a more prescriptive set of commitments. In 2003, ICMM published the first iteration of its 10 Mining Principles for sustainable development. These Mining Principles were updated in 2020 to include a series of performance expectations that company members are expected to comply with, and again in 2022 to include more specific wording on
diversity, equity, and inclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a conceptual framework claims to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, especially in the workplace, including populations who have historically been under-represented or subject ...
(DEI). Although ICMM strives for unanimity, it recognises that on occasion there may be reasonable grounds why individual companies may not be able to commit to their positions at the time of approval. That is why, under a policy known as ‘conform or explain’ introduced in 2021, ICMM will adopt a common position when at least 75 percent of members are able to commit to implementation. Any company members that are unable to do so at the time have 12 months to either adopt the position or publicly explain the reasons why they cannot.
ICMM's 10 Mining Principles comprise:
# Ethical Business
# Decision Making
# Human Rights
# Risk Management
# Health & Safety
# Environmental Performance
# Conservation of Biodiversity
# Responsible Production
# Social Performance
# Stakeholder Engagement
Since 2003, ICMM has also developed a number of Position Statements to articulate additional commitments on a number of critical industry challenges. Position Statements are endorsed by the ICMM Council and include specific commitments that members must implement, alongside all other performance expectations.
# Mining and Protected Areas (2003)
# Mercury Risk Management (2009)
# Mining Partnerships for Development (2010)
# Indigenous Peoples and Mining (2013)
# Tailings Governance Framework (2016)
# Water Stewardship (2017)
# Climate Change (2021)
# Transparency of Mineral Revenues (2021)
Members
ICMM estimates that it brings together a third of the global metals and mining industry
to drive leadership, action and innovation for a safe, just and sustainable world. Company members of ICMM comprise
In addition to ICMM's company members, it counts over 35 national and commodity associations as members.
ICMM activities
ICMM'
Strategy and Action Plan 2022–2024involves 12 major initiatives across four key areas:
* Environmental Resilience – delivering our net zero commitment announced in 2021; further improving water management at site-level and maximising the industry's contribution to a nature positive future.
* Social Performance – playing a leading role in creating diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces and societies; further strengthening approaches to upholding and enhancing human rights, particularly the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples, and supporting the resilience of communities to thrive in a changing, climate-impacted world.
* Governance and Transparency – leading the convergence of ESG standards; supporting the maximisation of benefits of mining for host countries through disclosure and transparency; enhancing practices for responsible and sustainable mine closure and driving implementation of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management across the industry.
* Innovation – accelerating innovation in tailings to reduce waste; supporting the development of a circular economy; and pursuing a step-change in eliminating fatalities towards the goal of zero harm.
References
External links
Official ICMM website
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International environmental organizations
International organisations based in London
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on the economic via ...
Mining trade associations
2001 establishments in England