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A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

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Susta<strong>in</strong>able M<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

There is no one def<strong>in</strong>ition of susta<strong>in</strong>ability that has been universally adopted by the<br />

m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry. Some useful descriptions <strong>in</strong>clude the follow<strong>in</strong>g:<br />

m<strong>in</strong>ers can achieve <strong>susta<strong>in</strong>able</strong> <strong>development</strong> by embrac<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

social, environment and economic pillars – James 1999.<br />

offsett<strong>in</strong>g or re<strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g the benefits from the<br />

deplet<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>eral asset – Labonne 1999.<br />

the simultaneous pursuit of susta<strong>in</strong>ed or enhanced: environmental<br />

quality, economic growth, and social justice – Eggert 2006.<br />

Hilson and Basu (2003, p. 320) discuss further the difficulties of apply<strong>in</strong>g <strong>susta<strong>in</strong>able</strong><br />

<strong>development</strong> <strong>to</strong> a m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g context. The reasons cited <strong>in</strong>clude the existence of<br />

<strong>in</strong>numerable frameworks and <strong>in</strong>dica<strong>to</strong>r sets and a multitude of <strong>in</strong>terpretations<br />

of <strong>susta<strong>in</strong>able</strong> <strong>development</strong>. The authors propose a framework of <strong>susta<strong>in</strong>able</strong><br />

<strong>development</strong> based on the three pillars underp<strong>in</strong>ned by good governance (p. 329).<br />

The issue of governance implies good government, which <strong>in</strong>cludes a sound fiscal<br />

and regula<strong>to</strong>ry environment as well as good corporate governance. It becomes a<br />

particularly important issue when companies work off shore, especially <strong>in</strong> countries<br />

where corruption is widespread.<br />

A GUIDE TO LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN MINING 9

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