A new standard from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) focuses on the sustainability impacts of the mining sector. GRI 14: Mining Sector 2024 is part of the organization’s Sector Standard series and reflects broad stakeholder demands for transparency.
“From a sustainability standpoint, the position of mining is complex, in that it is both part of the solution and the problem. The low-carbon transition cannot be realized without key minerals that the sector provides – yet mining operations can have deep and damaging impacts on both nature and people,” said Carol Adams, chair of GRI’s Global Sustainability Standards Board.
“We need detailed, consistent and globally comparable reporting on the most significant impacts of mining companies, which this new GRI Standard will deliver. Importantly, it will help mining organizations to improve how they communicate with key stakeholders on the issues that matter most to build trust with communities.”
Addressing 25 topics that are likely material for companies in the sector, GRI 14:
- Sets expectations for site-level transparency that reflect local impacts, to help stakeholders assess impacts and risks by location and specific minerals.
- Covers critical themes that range from emissions to waste, human rights to land and resource rights, climate change to biodiversity, anti-corruption to community engagement.
- Introduces three topics not previously addressed by GRI: tailings management, artisanal and small-scale mining, and operating in conflict zones.
GRI 14 was developed by independent multi-stakeholder Working Group, and incorporates expectations from responsible mining guidance and relevant standards for the sector. Expert inputs were included from EITI, IRMA, International Council on Mining and Metals, Copper Mark, the OECD, and Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management.
GRI 14: Mining Sector 2024 can be viewed here.
Source: GRI