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Acknowledging community concerns over the impact of tailings dam failures, such as at Mount Polley and Samarco, this report seeks to examine and explain why tailings dam failures continue to occur. It provides an accessible and balanced description of the complexities surrounding tailings dam failures, informing the global community of the issues. Sixteen years on from the 2001 International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) “Tailings Dams: Risk of Dangerous Occurrences” report, it gives an update on the status of reforms and provides momentum and direction for advancing the shared ambition of eliminating tailings dam failures. It also provides an overview of the key issues, using case studies to illustrate causes and consequences of tailings dam failures, the progress of reform and the need for a coordinated stakeholder response. 

This report aims to be the starting point from which a productive global conversation on sand extraction can begin.

Modern society is highly dependent upon mined materials. A by-product of mining, however, is the generation of large quantities of mine waste. Mining companies, communities and governments recognize that mine waste can damage the environment and impact lives and livelihoods. To facilitate successful mining practices, they are committed to work together to minimise the impact of the industry.

The UN Global Compact has compiled a series of COVID-19 issue area briefs, calling on business leaders everywhere to unite to support workers, communities, and companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The goal of this document is to provide guidance to project developers to prepare bankable sustainable infrastructure projects that build climate resilience, and consider NbS as a substitute, compliment, or safeguard to conventional infrastructure projects