Environment: Mining

June 01, 2002

The mining industry is calling for minimum environmental, health and safety, social and ethical standards to ensure the ongoing support of investors and the public. In a much-publicised report from the 28-member group, Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development, the industry is also suggesting the creation of internationally protected zones around environmentally or culturally sensitive areas.

The report defines the goal of sustainable development for the sector as “maximizing the contribution to the well-being of the current generation in a way that ensures an equitable distribution of its costs and benefits, without reducing the potential for future generations to meet their own needs”. Breaking New Ground, published on May 7, marks the conclusion of the Global Mining Initiative, and will inform debate about the industry at the up-coming Johannesburg summit. Contact Hugh Leggatt, Rio Tinto, on 020 7753 2273 (http://www.iied.org/mmsd)

The Shell Foundation is agreeing to meet half the cost of a new $7.5m centre for transport and the environment, it announced on May 28. The EMBARQ centre will be run by the World Resources Institute out of Washington DC. Contact Justin Everard, Shell, on 020 7934 3277 (http://www.shellfoundation.org)

A new report claims that failure to respond to the risks posed by climate change could result in multi-billion dollar losses for US businesses and portfolios. Published on April 18 by the multi-sector group, CERES, Value at Risk: Climate Change and the Future of Governance calls for executive compensation to be linked to the management of current and probable risk exposure.

Meanwhile, green business solutions present the private sector with important emerging market opportunities, argues a new report released by the United Nations Environment Programme, World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Resources Institute on April 3. Tomorrow’s Markets outlines 19 global trends, such as urbanisation, mobility and nutrition, which, if harnessed by business innovations, will engender both commercial and social benefits. Contact Nicole St. Clair, CERES, on 00 1 617 247 0700 (http://www.ceres.org); Adlai Amor, WRI, on 00 1 202 729 7736 (http://www.wri.org) Calor Gas is providing rural car-share clubs to access cleaner fuel by installing Autogas stations selling eco-friendly liquid petroleum gas in areas where the clubs are operating. Contact Naomi Cordiner, Car Clubs, on 0113 234 9299 (http://www.carclubs.org.uk)

Electronics retailer Comet is allowing customers to send back unwanted mobile handsets for recycling in pre-paid envelopes, it announced on May 2. Contact Scott Keiler, Comet, on 01923 714 675 (http://www.comet.co.uk) ##Xerox reported on April 18 that it has saved an estimated $2bn over the last ten years through its development of ecofriendly products and processes. Contact Kara Choquette, Xerox, on 00 1 203 968 3593 (http://www.xerox.com)

The Co-operative Bank, Yell and Interface Europe were among the nine winners in the sustainable development category of this year’s Queens Awards for Enterprise on April 21. Contact Alastair Cox, Queens Awards, on 020 7222 2277 (http://www.queensawards.org.uk)

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