In its resolution on Mineral Resource Governance (UNEP/EA.4/L.19), the United Nations Environment Assembly asked United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to collect information on sustainable practices, identify knowledge gaps and options for implementation strategies, and undertake an overview of existing assessments of different governance initiatives and approaches relating to sustainable management of metal and mineral resources, including emerging issues linked to sustainable management of sand resources and of mine tailings.
In this #GGKPwebinar organized jointly with International Resource Panel (IRP), experts discuss progress made on the resolution, including a global stakeholder consultation conducted in partnership with the University of Queensland, a new Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management and key questions on how to advance international cooperation on mineral resource governances.
Presentation
Recording
Speaker quotes
“Sand is sitting at the heart of the just transition towards sustainable development without being visible in the current mineral resource governance setup.” — Louise Gallagher, Environmental Governance Lead, UNEP/GRID-Geneva Global Sand Observatory Initiative
“Mineral resources clearly need a new governance framework, given the complex and disjointed framework we have to date. We have a spaghetti bowl of many actors with divergent interests that impairs our ability to make a constructive change.” — Antonio Pedro, Director, Sub-regional Office for Central Africa, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
"The finance sector needs to become more discerning in its allocation of capital by looking into the extent to which environmental, social and governance factors are truly taken into account in the investment decision-making process.” — Aidan Davy, Chief Operating Officer and Director, Environment Programme, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM)
“The next step to support the global tailings management standard’s implementation is to establish an independent international institution that is self-sustaining, acts as a knowledge hub of best practice, and reflects a multi-stakeholder process in order to ensure the highest levels of transparency and an identifiable degree of independence from the mining industry.” — Angela Kariuki, Law Officer, UNEP
“Let us work together across international organisations and governments, with industry, communities, and stakeholders, to help share knowledge and experiences and build capacity to strengthen mine tailings safety.” — Franziska Hirsch, Secretary to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
“Artisanal and small-scale mining continues to be an area of concern because it involves a vast amount of people - particularly in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America. A significant diversity of practices generating environmental challenges, therefore making its proper governance all the more burdensome." — Daniel Franks, Professor, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland
Speakers
Aidan Davy, Chief Operating Officer and Director, Environment Programme, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM)
Daniel Franks, Professor, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland
Louise Gallagher, Environmental Governance Lead, UNEP/GRID-Geneva Global Sand Observatory Initiative
Franziska Hirsch, Secretary to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Antonio Pedro, Director, Sub-regional Office for Central Africa, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
Moderated by Ligia Noronha, Director, Economy Division, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Opening remarks from Martine Rohn-Brossard, Head of Section Europe, Trade and Development/Deputy Head International Division, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
Background materials
- #GGKPwebinar: Rebuilding Better: What's sand got to do with it? (13 October 2020)
- UNECE Seminar on mine tailings safety in the UNECE region and beyond (1 Dec 2020)
- #GGKPwebinar: Managing Metals and Minerals: Key takeaways from the 2019 OECD Green Growth and Sustainable Development (GGSD) Forum (5 December 2019)
- UNECE Decision on strengthening mine tailings safety in the UNECE region and beyond, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention at its 11th meeting (Geneva and online, 7-9 Dec 2020)
- UNECE Safety Guidelines and Good Practices on Tailings Management Facilities