[ Link to tagged PDF file (size : 685 KB) ]
Sustainable Development and the Minerals Industry
by Jeremy P. Richards
Jeremy.Richards@UAlberta.CA
This article was published in the Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter No. 48, January 2002, p.1, 8-12
Introduction
An often-heard view is that the concept of sustainable development is incompatible with the extractive minerals industry, and that mining in any form is un-sustainable. Because the material fabric of modern society is largely built with mineral products (Nowlan, 2001), the logical extension of this argument must be a return to the Stone Age (but no flint quarries, mind). Advocacy of this position might be considered anti-human, because a characteristic of our species is to strive for better living conditions for ourselves and our families. The human population of this planet is predicted to grow to ~9 billion by 2050 (Lutz et al., 2001), so rather than curtailing mining it will instead be necessary to expand production in order to support this growth.
If we accept that the well-being and progress of the human species is a worthy cause, then we are morally obliged to address the issue of sustainable development, in all aspects of our lives. But what does sustainable development mean in general, as well as specifically for the minerals industry? The Brundtland Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (United Nations, 1987, p. 43) defined sustainable development as meet[ing] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Similarly, Natural Resources Canada (2001) sees sustainable development the integration of environmental, economic and social considerations as the key to ensuring we maintain our quality of life and continue to create jobs, without compromising the integrity of the natural environment or the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Natural Resources Canada (2001) goes further and says Natural resources epitomize the challenge of sustainable development. Few sectors have more direct impact on the natural environment, yet few are more important to the economic and social health of every region in Canada.
These statements do not imply that development should have zero impact on the environment (McAllister and Milioli, 2000). Clearly, this is impossible if non-renewable or even renewable materials are to be extracted from the Earth (note that farming and forestry have a far larger footprint than mining, and probably a far greater negative environmental impact if the effects of fertilizers and pesticides are considered). Instead, they imply that the disturbance should be brought into balance with the planets capacity for accommodating change. Currently, the evidence seems to show that our emissions of greenhouse gases are unsustainable, because they may be causing a progressive warming of global climate. Switching off the electricity or gas is not a sustainable response for our society, but development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technologies obviously is. Moreover, perhaps we will have to decide whether to accept slightly warmer average temperatures as a trade-off against higher standards of living (the planet won´t mind it has frequently seen far hotter conditions in the geological past). However, we cannot allow the situation to get out of control (unchecked warming), so we need to establish a balance.Thus, when looking at sustainability issues in the minerals industry, the option of banning mining (and let[ting] the b******s freeze in the dark, as a memorable Australian bumper sticker once put it) is not a realistic consideration. But all other facets of the industry are and should be up for scrutiny. The sustainability of the minerals industry rests on three legs: economic, environmental, and social license (Mining Journal, 2000). Each of these facets is considered separately below, although a sustainable solution in fact requires holistic integration of all three aspects. In addition, it is becoming clear that for real sustainability, a fourth leg governance is also required.
Jeremy P. Richards
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
Jeremy.Richards@UAlberta.CA
added 07 April 2003
