Breaking New Ground: Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) Final Report

Society’s continuing need for minerals is clear. However, the way in which minerals should be extracted, processed, used, and recycled - in the context of sustainable development - is less than clear and often bitterly controversial. This publication presents the principal conclusions of the IIED/WBCSD project Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) - the most ambitious study yet undertaken on the role of minerals in sustainable development. Drawing on the project’s two-year process of consultation and research, Breaking New Ground describes the minerals sector and its relationship with concepts of sustainable development, and offers an Agenda for Change for immediate and future actions. The report is based on four regional processes, activities in 16 countries, and over 200 pieces of commissioned research, which are all included on an accompanying CD-ROM.