Berlin, 19 February 2019 – The mining sector, if carefully managed, presents enormous opportunities for advancing sustainable development, particularly in low-income countries, the International Resource Panel says in its latest report. The Panel calls for an international mineral agency – or a global treaty – to address priorities of transformation and economic diversification, along with concerns about security of supply.
In Mineral Resource Governance in the 21st Century: Gearing Extractive Industries Towards Sustainable Development, the International Resource Panel says international action is needed to consolidate existing rules and regulations in the mining sector, and to agree on international standards on such things as transparency and codes of conduct.
Extraction of mineral resources has increased markedly in recent decades, and in the past decade at a rate faster than economic growth. In addition, there is a significant long-term challenge of how to meet the mineral resource needs of a growing global population that is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.8 billion by 2050, and 11.2 billion by the end of the century.
Emerging economies, expanding populations, global middle-class growth and increasing urbanization, together with the global transition to clean-carbon energy production and the switch to electric vehicles will further drive demand for minerals and metals.
“Minerals and metals underpin national economies, provide crucial raw materials for industrial activities, and are inputs to almost every sector of the global economy,” the report states, “Extractive resources are going to continue playing a central role in driving the global economy despite moves to decouple economies and towards greater recycling.”
In preparing its latest report, the Panel analysed at least 80 existing international instruments governing mining, ranging from site-specific to global initiatives. But, despite the plethora of instruments, these have not succeeded in promoting shared benefits and creating links to local economies.
“The notion of sustainable development – integrating the pillars of people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership – has become the organizing framework for global development cooperation and is key to framing discussions about the extractive sector’s future,” the Panel says.
The Panel makes recommendations for reform at both international and national levels. At national level, it suggests that countries adopt a Strategic Plan for the mining sector and other sectors impacted by it. The Plan should be set in the context of sustainable development, and could include a mining law that enshrines the principles of consultation, transparency and reporting, as well as explicitly recognizing the rights of local populations.
The Plan should also facilitate the creation of three core public institutions to promote and regulate the development of mines and metals industries – an Environmental Directorate in charge of developing environmental policies, laws and regulations; a Mining Directorate in charge of mines and metals-related policies; and a Geological Survey in charge of acquiring, conserving, managing, modelling and disseminating geological, geophysical, geochemical and other data.
At international level, the Panel proposes an International Minerals Agency, or an international agreement, to, among others, coordinate and share data on economic geology, mineral demand needs, and promote transparency on impacts and benefits.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Download a preview copy of the Summary for Policymakers.
The full report will be released in the coming weeks.
About UN Environment
UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world.
About the International Resource Panel
The International Resource Panel, a group of eminent experts, was set up by UN Environment in 2007. The Panel consists of eminent scientists, highly skilled in resource management issues. Their reports distil the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic findings around global resource use. http://www.resourcepanel.org/
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Moira O'Brien-Malone, Communications, International Resource Panel, moira.obrien-malone@un.org
