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Site discussions to integrate biodiversity into mine planning and operations (Photo: SANBI)
Mining for common ground: putting biodiversity on South African mining companies' agendas
… Africa – hit the national headlines. Civil society groups accused the mining company of damaging the environment near the Mapungubwe National Park, while the mining company argued that its operations were in line with the law. The … past efforts to mainstream environmental issues into private sector practices, the Mining and Biodiversity Forum decided against a …
Article, 21 March 2016
Landscape with a mine and blue sky.
Can the net-zero transition offer a new dawn for Africa’s industrialisation?
… some African nations. According to the International Energy Agency’s sustainable development scenario , by 2040, demand for copper by clean … that not only benefits its economy, but contributes to its sustainable development. In past boom cycles, African countries have … through continent-wide policies and agreements such as the Africa Mining Vision (PDF) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (PDF) . …
Insight, 16 May 2024
These cars in downtown Lanzhou are part of efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in China. But electric cars require nearly 10kg of cobalt per vehicle, which may encourage increased deep-sea mining (Photo: Tim Zachernuk, Creative Commons, via Flickr)
Mining in the deep-sea bed: are we ready?
… Deep-sea mining (DSM) is a fast-developing frontier of mineral exploration and, … (ISA) , which has the mandate to administer and regulate deep-sea mining in 'Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction' (ABJN), has been … licences in the ABNJ to companies hoping to start extraction once the mining code is finalised in 2020. Do we need deep-sea mining? Competing …
Insight, 12 November 2018
An open pit mine
Realigning investment contracts with sustainable development
… investment can bring cleaner technologies and better management practices, but large natural resource projects may also degrade the … part of it.  Investment contracts include, for example, petroleum, mining and agricultural concessions, and production sharing agreements … do?  We generated evidence on evolving contractual practice and the sustainable development issues associated with it; developed learning …
Project, 06 May 2020
Cover for 17435IIED.pdf
Golden practices that defy gloom
… unsafely, and have little access to training or technology. Informal mining has polluted waterways, damaged landscapes and exploited workers. … that are operating responsibly, and shows that some ASM miners and mining companies want to become part of a more responsible and sustainable industry. … Sustainable markets …
Publication, 01 October 2017
Mecati Forest, Mozambique: a group of charcoal producers clear trees and prepare to make charcoal. Each year more than eight million bags of charcoal are produced by Mozambique's informal sector (Photo: Mike Goldwater/IIED)
The informal economy and sustainable development
… increasingly clear that if attempts to achieve green growth and sustainable development are to succeed, they must be rooted in a sound … enterprise in policymaking and business strategy.  Our Shaping Sustainable Markets (SSM)   initiative is providing a platform … the drivers and impacts of informality in agriculture, logging, and mining in sub-Saharan Africa . This work aims to show that development …
Project, 20 January 2016
A timber market in Yaoundé
New director for IIED's Shaping Sustainable Markets research group
… on business engagement. This involved engaging with business on the Sustainable Development Goals, developing programmes promoting inclusive … "Laura comes to us from leading DFID’s engagement with business on sustainable development. Her experience in promoting socially … environmental economics, trade and investment, tourism, and mining. …
News, 11 October 2018
A London workshop heard about the human stories of gold mining from artisanal and small-scale miners in Tanzania (Photo: Brian Sokol/Panos Pictures)
Bright prospects for mining sector dialogue
News, 30 June 2015
Miners pushing a cart out of a mine near the Bolivian town of Potosi. For centuries this area had the richest silver mines in South America. Today many of the mines are worked by local cooperatives, but conditions are still harsh (Photo Nyall & Maryanne, Creative Commons via Flickr)
Listen and learn: lessons from the small-scale mining sector
… -  T.S. Eliot The last 10 years have seen the mining sector continue to struggle with social issues . Efforts by … had a bigger voice at the table in defining the language of sustainable development for the sector. It is only in this way that the … the agenda From 2000-02, IIED housed the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) programme . It was a landmark initiative …
Insight, 05 February 2015
Small-scale gold miners in Madagascar. Photo: Global Environment Facility
IIED shines a light on small-scale mining
… This project will aim to help policymakers ensure small-scale mining meets its potential to improve lives and take better care of … small-scale mining from realising its potential to contribute to sustainable development." The sector is a paradox — productive but … historically given little attention to the sector and how to make it sustainable, instead focusing on large scale mining. Rather than …
News, 05 March 2013