A view of the “Broken Chair” sculpture from the Palais des Nations
On Wednesday, delegates to the 14th AGM of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) continued their deliberations in a plenary session on ‘climate-smart mining’, and in six parallel sessions over the rest of the day on ‘forest-smart mining’, voluntary instruments, mine closure, innovation, responsible supply chains, and local content strategies. Delegates raised concerns about diverse issues, including on land and catchment restoration at abandoned and orphan mines, opportunities to develop the quality of local manufacturing and services for mining and non-mining sectors, and the influence of technology change on employment of mine workers. They took note of the great increase in demand for certain metals and minerals used in electric vehicles, and considered the role of government in developing laws and policies to mitigate the carbon and material footprint of the mining industry. They exchanged views on the best ways to create an enabling environment for investment, and the possibilities for achieving a circular economy in the mining sector. They also discussed recent initiatives by mining companies to contribute to reforestation and biodiversity protection. At lunchtime, delegates took part in an interactive session about using digital resources for the governance of the extractives sector, and heard a presentation on ‘How can Africa get the most value from its diamonds?’ by Vanessa Ushie, African Development Bank. The AGM’s second day concluded with informal discussions in the hallways, as IGF participants continued to reflect on the experiences and initiatives presented for responsible and sustainable mining.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage and daily reports from the 2018 AGM. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary report from the meeting.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera
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Climate Smart Mining
L-R: Alexander Medina, Chair, IGF; Guy Ethier, Umicore; Joseph Mankelow, British Geological Survey; moderator Christopher Sheldon, World Bank; Evelyn Daphne Blackie, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone; Matthew Bateson, Rio Tinto; and Daniele La Porta, World Bank
Moderator Christopher Sheldon, World Bank
Daniele La Porta, World Bank
Joseph Mankelow, British Geological Survey
Evelyn Daphne Blackie, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone
Guy Ethier, Umicore
Matthew Bateson, Rio Tinto
Alhousseine Kaba (left), Ministry of Mines and Geology, Guinea
Forest Smart Mining
L-R: Alexander Medina, Chair, IGF; Teresa Macayo Marín, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Peru; moderator Estelle Levin-Nally, Director, Levin Sources; Nick Cotts, Newmont Mining Corporation; and Pippa Howard, Fauna & Flora International
Nick Cotts, Newmont Mining Corporation
Pippa Howard, Fauna & Flora International
Teresa Macayo Marín, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Peru
Estelle Levin-Nally, Director, Levin Sources
Adriana Verdier, Vale International SA
Mónica Ospina, Director, O Trade
Kirsten Lori Hund, World Bank
The Relevance of Internationally Agreed Voluntary Instruments for Contract Negotiations
L-R: Louis Maréchal, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); moderator Karl Sauvant, CONNEX Advisory Committee; Nneoma Veronica Nwogu, World Bank; and Herbert McLeod, CONNEX Advisory Committee
Louis Maréchal, OECD
Nneoma Veronica Nwogu, World Bank
Moderator Karl Sauvant, CONNEX Advisory Committee
Herbert McLeod, CONNEX Advisory Committee
Participants during the session
Mine Closure Best Practices: Tools for Companies and Governments
L-R: Matthew Bliss, Deputy Director, IGF Secretariat; Alexander Medina, Chair, IGF; Andrew Gunua, Mineral Resources Authority, Papua New Guinea; moderator Hilary Morgan, Natural Resources Canada; and Nicky Black, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM)
Moderator Hilary Morgan, Natural Resources Canada
Nicky Black, ICMM
Andrew Gunua, Mineral Resources Authority, Papua New Guinea
Karin Fabiola Landaverry, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Guatemala
Phindile Ugwu, Department of Mineral Resources, South Africa
Salem Lorot, Kenya
Leveraging Innovation for a Sustainable Mining Sector
L-R: Alec Crawford, IGF Secretariat; Vanessa Ushie, African Development Bank (AfDB); Scott Yarrow, Glencore; and Marcela Angulo González, Chilean Economic Development and Innovation Agency
Marcela Angulo González, Chilean Economic Development and Innovation Agency
Scott Yarrow, Glencore
Delegates during the session
Promoting Responsible Supply Chains
L-R: Alec Crawford, IGF Secretariat; Alexander Medina, Chair, IGF; Louis Maréchal, OECD; Ben Chalmers, Mining Association of Canada; moderator Assheton Carter, CEO, The Dragonfly Initiative; and Vivaswath Kumar, Tesla
Ben Chalmers, Mining Association of Canada
Moderator Assheton Carter, CEO, The Dragonfly Intiative
Moderator Assheton Carter, CEO, The Dragonfly Intiative, and Vivaswath Kumar, Tesla
Promoting Diversification Through Local Content Strategies
L-R: Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary-General, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Mónica Ospina, Director, O Trade; Johannes Danz, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Germany; moderator Nicky Black, ICMM; Kojo Busia, UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); and Dione Macedo, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Brazil
Glenn Gemerts, Suriname
Moderator Nicky Black, ICMM, and Kojo Busia, UNECA
Ahmed Ajabnoor, Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources (MEIM), Saudi Arabia
Dione Macedo, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Brazil
Making the Most of Digital Resources for Extractives Sector Governance
L-R: Joanne Jones, Extractives Hub; Fatma Nyambura, Adam Smith International; Gokce Mete, University of Dundee; and Marina Ruete, IGF Secretariat
How Can Africa Get the Most Value From Its Diamonds?
L-R: Jerry Kwame Ahadjie and Vanessa Ushie, AfDB; Charles Kenalemang, Department of Mines, Botswana; and Marina Ruete, IGF Secretariat
Around the Venue
Pacific Island representatives
L-R: Veerle van Wauwe, Founding Director, Transparence SA; Fitsum Weldegiorgis, International Institute for Environment and Development; and Estelle Levin-Nally, Director, Levin Sources
