The International Council on Mining and Minerals (ICMM) and the United Nations Environment Program have launched global standards for the safe management of mine tailings. The historic agreement to lay out a set of industry protocols comes 18 months after the tailings dam disaster at the Corrego do Feijão mine in Brazil that tragically killed 270 people.
The UN and mining industry were joined by the Principles of Responsible Investment to undertake the Global Tailings Review. These three co-convenors represent government, industry and investor stakeholders.
UNESCO Professor of Marine Science Elaine Baker from the School of Geosciences and GRID-Arendal at the University of Sydney is member of the international advisory panel that oversaw the development of the new protocols.
“These dams are some of the largest human-made structures on the planet and require careful ongoing management,” Professor Baker said.
“While large-scale failures of tailings dams are uncommon, when they do occur, they can be catastrophic for downstream communities and the environment.”
The more than one-year process has resulted in the development of a revolutionary global standard for the management of new and existing mine tailings facilities.
The aim of the Global Tailings Review was to establish an industry standard that could eliminate tailings dam failures.
The reasons for these failures are well understood, so the task of the review was to establish a standard that would ensure mine operators applied best practices in planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, monitoring, closure and post-closure of tailings facilities.
“The differences between the global standard and many existing standards for tailings dam management include provisions for greater consultation from the outset with potentially affected communities,” Professor Baker detailed.
Ligia Noronha, Director of the UNEP Economy Division, commented: “The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management is an important milestone towards the ambition of zero harm to people and the environment from tailings facilities.”
The standard will strengthen current practices in the mining industry by integrating social, environmental, local economic and technical considerations. The new standard covers the entire tailings facility lifecycle – from site selection, design and construction, management and monitoring, through to closure and post-closure.
“It also includes increased independent engineering oversight at all stages of tailings management; more transparent mine operator accountability; increased public access to consequence of failure information; and an increased standard of reporting,” Professor Baker said. “These initiatives represent a system-wide change in tailings management.”
Professor Baker has been also been involved in concurrent activities, including PRI’s Mining Tailings and Safety Initiative. This has resulted in the first global database based on mining company disclosures of tailings dam information. Originally compiled for the investor community, it is envisaged that the database will provide an essential tool in the monitoring of company compliance with the standard.
The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management can be found online here.
About ICMM
The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) is an international organisation dedicated to a safe, fair and sustainable mining and metals industry. Aligning 27 mining and metals companies and over 35 regional and commodities associations, it strengthens environmental and social performance and serves as a catalyst for change, enhancing mining’s contribution to society. Every ICMM company member adheres to its Mining Principles which incorporates comprehensive environmental, social and governance requirements, robust site-level validation of performance expectations and credible assurance of corporate sustainability reports.
About UNEP
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage 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.
About PRI
Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment. It works to understand the investment implications of ESG factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions. The PRI acts in the long-term interests of its signatories, of the financial markets and economies in which they operate, and ultimately, of the environment and society as a whole. The PRI is being represented in this process by John Howchin of the Swedish Council of Ethics and Adam Matthews of the Church of England Pensions Board.