The growing importance of ESG in Mining

What is ESG?

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is a term used by socially conscious investors to evaluate corporate behaviour and non-financial performance indicators which include approaches to sustainable, ethical and corporate governance issues.

ESG in Mining

How does ESG apply to the mining industry?

Due to the very nature of the metals and mining industry, ESG has long been a focus for governments, NGOs, industry bodies and wider society concerned by the environmental and social impacts of the extractives sector. Over recent years, these concerns have led to the introduction of wide-reaching and robust ESG-focused regulations, codes and principles that mining companies are now obliged and expected to observe.

Examples of ESG-focused principles The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), an international organisation which is dedicated to a safe, fair and sustainable mining and metals industry, developed 10 Mining Principles which their 27 mining and metals company members need to meet in order to fulfill membership requirements. The development of ICMM’s Mining Principles means that investors can easily access information on how these companies are managing a full spectrum of environmental, social and governance issues. To demonstrate their commitment to ESG, companies are often required to adopt best practice and procedures, enhance their monitoring and reporting, and factor ESG considerations into strategic decision-making.

Tools helping mining companies demonstrate their ESG commitments

Decipher is trusted by resource and energy teams globally to support their Rehabilitation and Cloosure, and to facilitate improved safety and reduced risk for Tailings Storage Facility monitoring. Armed with Decipher, our clients are empowered to effectively uphold and demonstrate their commitment to ESG including the ICMM Mining Principles. Decipher has been built to adhere to industry best practice and compliance requirements such as the Investor Mining and Tailings Safety Initiative, the Global Tailings Portal and ICMM, and has been designed to provide you with key data and insights so that you can easily demonstrate your company’s commitment to ESG.

Key benefits of Decipher’s ESG capabilities

Partner with a Wesfarmers Subsidiary (ASX:WES) that is passionate about accelerating the responsible, sustainable and productive management of earth’s resources
Visually demonstrate your commitment to ESG & ICMM’s Mining Principles with Decipher’s geospatial map, environmental monitoring, compliance, tailings, and stakeholder tools
Adhere to best practice and meet the requirements of ICMM, Global Tailings Portal, PRI, UNEP, and Church of England Pensions Board
Protect World Heritage Sites and legally designated areas by mapping disturbance and non-disturbance areas on the geospatial map
Establish, monitor and measure mine closure completion criteria over time as well as manage and track disturbance and rehabilitation planning targets against delivery
Uphold and ensure compliance by capturing important obligation information, and address and manage key deliverables
Drive effective environmental monitoring to help minimise the environmental footprint of large scale projects
Access and visualise advanced satellite imagery and analysis to demonstrate pre and post project performance
Identify, track and report on stakeholder profiles and important stakeholder metrics, including the ability to highlight trends in stakeholder sentiments and themes, and assign related actions to team members
Drive proactive tailings management with our comprehensive and functionally rich Tailings solution