Sustainable Mining or Responsible Mining?

Sustainable Mining

 The Brundtland Commission defines “sustainability, as the ability of the current

generation to meet their own needs without compromising the ability of the future
generations to meet their own needs”.1
 Sustainable mining refers to the development of our minerals and energy
resources, onshore and offshore, in a way that maximizes the economic and
social benefits while minimizing the environmental impacts of mining.
 It integrates environmental, economic, safety and community aspects in all phases of
a project.
 In other words, Green-peace advocate Dr. Moore (1997) simplifies the definition by
stating that
- “Sustainability is not finding the ideal state that will last forever. It is about
managing through the inevitable change so as to satisfy present day
environmental, economic and social priorities while not foreclosing the
options of future generations to do the same”.
 Key Actors of Sustainable Mining: Government, Mining Firms, Community, NGOs
 Sustainable Mining is attainable according to John Strongman when these requisites
are maintained by the Key Actors: it has to be financially viable; environmentally
sound; socially responsible; implemented with sound governance; and it must bring
lasting benefits especially for local communities.2

Responsible Mining

 According to the Asia Foundation, Responsible mining is a comprehensive and

transparent minerals activity respecting the rights of all stakeholders, especially of
local people; environmentally friendly and free of human health impacts; embracing
the best international practices and upholding rule of law whilst generating a
sustainable stream of benefits.3

1 World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our Common Future, From One Earth to
One World. Retrieved from http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-ov.htm#1.2
2 Strongman. (2002). Sustainable Mining Development: From Concept to Action: A presentation made in

the mining and the community. World Bank

3 The Asia Foundation. (2007). MONGOLIA HIGHLIGHTS: Signatories agree to a Definition of

Responsible Mining that will advance national objectives for the benefit of all Mongolians. Retrieved from
https://asiafoundation.org/resources/pdfs/MGMultistakeholderIV.pdf
 In a nutshell, Responsible Mining refers to advocacy to reform mining activity, as well
as to a marketing strategy used by mining companies to promote their operations as
environmentally or socially sound.4
 Based from DENR’s (Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau) quotation of Hilario’s article
on Responsible Mining5, Responsible Mining as acknowledged by the World Summit
on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg 2002, may be attained when
governments adhere to these three principles of sustainable development when
mining: economic growth, environmental protection and social equity.
 Economic Growth:
 Environmental Protection:
 Social Equity:
 Responsible Mining is predicated upon stakeholder engagement, good governance,
and other principles that will advance national interests, but it is likewise a shared
responsibility between the Key Actors of the Mining Industry.

Is it possible?

 The problem now posed by Abao6 (2019) is that from the vantage point of
environmental protection, “responsible mining” may seem like an oxymoron given the
obvious toll of mining on natural resources, especially arable land, water and forests.
The nature of this industry thus goes against the principle of preserving and cultivating
land and nature for present and future generations
 Responsible mining is possible, but it will require self-policing among mining
companies and the full implementation of the mining law.
 The main problem to be addressed regarding the gridlock of destructive mining from
responsible mining, is towards the small-scale miners as they largely contribute to
irresponsible mining by utilizing harmful mercury, the non-payment of taxes, the
employment of children, non-rehabilitation, and many fatal accidents7.
 Resolving these concerns may prove that responsible mining is possible, with the
constant cooperation of mining companies in compliance with policies.

4 "Re-inhabitory Mining", City Miner, 1979, Vol.4, No.1, Berkeley, California

5Hilario. (2016). Responsible mining: Can it be done? Business Mirror. Retrieved from
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/03/14/responsible-mining-can-it-be-done/
6 Abao. (2019). Responsible Mining: Planet, People, Profit, Policy. Ateneo De Manila University.

Retrieved from http://www.ateneo.edu/ls/soss/political-science/news/research/responsible-mining-planet-

people-profit-policy-blueboard
7 Arcilla. (2017). Mining in the Philippines - Problems and Suggested Solutions. Stratbase ADR Institute.
How to make mining environmentally friendly

 The United Nations Development Programme8, suggested that through UN

Environment, managing an environmentally friendly mining can be attained through
these variables:
1. Orienting legal frameworks towards sustainable development
- Making domestic laws and international laws coherent with each other and
sufficiently detailed to function to a particular setting.
- Improving coordination within the government is necessary to ensure that
the legal, regulatory and normative framework is implemented in a coherent
manner and in ways that are consistent with promoting environmental
sustainability and sustainable social and economic development.
- When mining contracts are entered in to, it must focus on provisions related
to environmental impact mitigation, mine closure, resettlement, local
content and employment
2. Protecting the environment and people
- Follow the “polluters-pay” principle where the party responsible for
producing pollution will be responsible for paying for the damage done to
the natural environment.
- Fostering a culture of transparency in the government and in the mining
industry by recognizing the social impacts of mining and likewise enable
communities affected by mining, to have a say in mining-related decisions
and processes.
- Designing environmental regulation that adequately protects the
environment.
- Enhancing access to mining-related information that is important and
relevant to local communities
3. Realizing and enhancing the benefits from mining
- The mining sector can bring significant economic benefits to a country by
generating fiscal revenues and export earnings.
- Effect of this are relieving constraints to investment, spurring economic
growth and creating jobs, as well as contributing to physical infrastructure
building.
- Although for this to occur, realizing and enhancing these benefits require
action, primarily from the government, but also from mining companies,
local communities, employers and businesses in the country.

8United Nations Development Programme. (2018). Managing Mining for Sustainable Development.
Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Sustainable
Development/Extractives/UNDP-MMFSD-LowResolution.pdf