The Forum and UNCSD 18/19

The IGF is a partnership initiative linked to the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The Forum aims to enhance the contribution of mining to sustainable development and poverty reduction, particularly in developing countries. It does this by informing members on the latest best practices in dealing with the full range of issues related to mining. The Forum has 43 member countries; all but two are developing and emerging countries.

Given the genesis of the Forum and its objectives, CSD 18 and 19 were important events. In preparation for CSD18, the Forum conducted a survey of its membership to gauge the adoption of best practice in mining and identify gaps. This survey represents the most extensive survey of mining in developing countries of its kind covering aspects of financial, environmental and social issues related to mining.

At the 2010 Annual General meeting of the IGF, members reviewed the responses to the survey and agreed on its key conclusions, of which the need for capacity building to address implementation of best practice was identified as a key outcome. Members recognised that they have the information required to address good governance of the mining sector, but in many countries, they lack the capacity to implement it well.

A remarkable amount of learning has taken place over the last decade on how to best deal with the challenges facing management of the mining sector. The report of the Forum Learning Centre at CSD18 documents some of that learning, to inform others of the progress made and to inform the debate about the contribution that mining makes to sustainable development. The full report of the Forum is attached (PDF).

The focus of the debate should now examine the ways and means to ensure that the learning that has been acquired becomes the reference point or base-line for mining globally. Such an action-oriented debate serves the needs and interests of developing countries and could work to encourage donor agencies, the multilateral system and others to return in a renewed effort to support governance capacity for the mining sector in developing countries.

The Forum seeks to continue its efforts to support a new action oriented debate on mining. To facilitate the discussion at CSD19, the IGF prepared a policy framework that was tabled as a way forward globally for mining. The policy framework represents a compendium of best practices to address mining issues. With this document, Forum members presented a clear message for a roadmap for the future that enables developing countries to implement best practice and enhance the contribution the mining sector in their country make to sustainable development. At the CSD19 Learning Centre, the IGF presented the key elements of the Framework and discussed views of the industry, civil society and multilateral organizations for a global way forward on mining.

• Agenda (PDF)
• Learning Centre 1: Mining and Sustainable Development
  • Segment 1: Mining and its Contribution to Sustainable Development
    • Presenter: André Bourassa, Secretary, Intergovernmental on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (Presentation - PDF)
  • Segment 2: Linking Mining to the National Economy; Good Governance and Sustainable Development
    • Lead presenter: The World Bank (Gary MacMahon) (Presentation - PDF)
      Panel:
      • Fernanda Diez, ICMM (Presentation - PDF)
      • Ben Aryee, Government of Ghana (Presentation - PDF)
      • Patrick Chevalier, Government of Canada (Presentation - PDF)
  • Final Report (PDF)
• Learning Centre 2: Mining, People and the Land
  • Segment 1: Mining and People
    Lead presenter: Gary MacMahon, The World Bank
    Presentation - PDF.
    Panel member: Patrick O’Neill, Government of Canada
    Presentation - PDF.
  • Segment 2: Mining and the Environment
    Lead presenter: John Groom, Anglo-American plc
    Presentation - PDF.
    Panel members: Ben Aryee, Government of Ghana; Fernanda Diez, ICMM
  • Segment 3: Artisanal/Small Scale Mining(ASM): Poverty and Beyond
    Lead presenter: Assheton Carter, PACT
    Presentation attached in PDF.
    Panel member: Mamadou Barry, World Bank
    Presentation attached in PDF.
  • Final Report (PDF)

UNCSD 19 FORUM LEARNING CENTRES

Preparing the global way forward for mining

• Intergovernmental Forum on Mining/Minerals/Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) and UNCSD
  Patrick Chevalier, Government of Canada
• Preparing the global way forward for mining
  Ben Peachey, ICMM
• Global Way Forward on Mining - Current strategic priorities in WB programs
  Anwar Ravat, World Bank
• Working with Companies on Sustainable Development
  Krista Hendry, Fund for Peace
  

REPORT OF THE 19th SESSION

Ministers and delegations at the 19th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development undertook extensive negotiations on a wide range of issues related to the interlinked themes of transport, chemicals, waste management, mining, and a 10- year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production. The negotiations were carried out on the basis of the Chair’s text emanating from the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for the 19th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, held from 28 February to 4 March 2011. Negotiations on the document started on Monday, 2 May 2011 and concluded on Friday, 13 May 2011, the last day of the session.

Mining was covered in Chapter D (PDF) of the Chair’s report of the 19th Session. A complete listing of all of the documents presented during the 19th Session can be located at the CSD19 website: http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/resources/res_docucsd_19.shtml