Sustainable development and the minerals industry

Abstract

The consumption of non-renewable mineral and metal resources is driven by society’s need for the products and services that are derived from these essential raw materials. However, the global supply of minerals is finite and demand is expected to increase as a greater proportion of the world’s growing population becomes more affluent. To meet this demand, mineral resource development will likely accelerate and mining will continue to shift from developed to developing nations where the vast majority of untapped mineral deposits are located. Mining projects carry a potentially significant social, economic and environmental footprint that, depending on how the project is managed, can have a positive or negative impact on current as well as future generations. The mining industry recognizes this challenge and has adopted business practices that address the problem of how to produce minerals in a sustainable and responsible way.