The Global Tailings Standard has been formally endorsed by the co-convenors of the Global Tailings Review: the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Principles on Responsible Investment (PRI).
UNEP Partnership to Support the Global Tailings Standard
New Delhi (ABC Live India): the UN Environment Programme
(UNEP) and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), Co-Convenors of the
Global Tailings Review, the Church of England Pensions Board, and the Council on
Ethics of the Swedish National Pension Funds, announced a partnership to create
an independent international institute to support the implementation of the
Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management.
The industry standard was launched in August 2020 and
follows January 2019 Brumadinho tailings dam disaster that resulted in the
deaths of 270 people.
The partnership will seek to develop and establish an
“Independent Institute” for the Standard, a self-sustaining institute, as
recommended by Dr Bruno Oberle, who acted as Independent Chair of the Global
Tailings Review, in Towards Zero Harm: A compendium of papers prepared for
the Global Tailings Review.
As part of the
partnership a senior consultant is being recruited to lead the process of
establishing the Institute.
Additionally, the
Church of England Pensions Board and the Council on Ethics of the Swedish
National Pension Funds have written to over 350 mining companies on behalf of
investors with $21 trillion in assets under management (AUM), asking them to
confirm on their company websites their support for the Standard and to set out
a timeline for their intended compliance with it. Take-up at the company
level of the Standard beyond the largest mining companies will be key to its
success.
Commenting
on the partnership:
Ligia Noronha,
UNEP's Director of the Economy Division said, “The launch of the Global
Industry Standard on Tailings Management has been an important milestone
towards UNEP’s ambition of zero harm to people and the environment from
tailings facilities. We are now taking the next step and welcome our
partnership with the Church of England Pensions Board and the Council on Ethics
of the Swedish National Pension Funds to develop and establish the independent
international institution that will oversee the global implementation of the
Standard. We look forward to a broad implementation of the Standard, echoing
the feedback we have heard from participants in the consultations on UNEA4/19
resolution on mineral resource governance.”
Adam Matthews,
Director of Ethics and Engagement for the Church of England Pensions Board said, “Through
this partnership we will create an independent international institute to drive
best practice, share expertise and consolidate disclosure in support of the
Standard. The Institute will also have a key role in evolving the
Standard over time and in ensuring the independent verification that the
Standard is being applied as intended. We look forward to working in
partnership with UNEP, industry and other key stakeholders to ensure this
institute is established with rigor and purpose. To underpin the Standard
we have also asked all companies with tailings facilities for their endorsement
and to confirm their implementation timeline. This will be essential in
retaining confidence of their investors.”
John Howchin,
Secretary-General, Council on Ethics of the Swedish Public Pension Funds
said, “As one of the two PRI Co-Convenors of the Global Tailings Review
representing investors in the mining sector, we are determined that the
Standard is widely adopted and drives a change in practice within mining.
A key recommendation of the Independent Chair of the Review was for the
creation of an independent international institute to govern the evolution of
the Standard and to ensure its implementation. We believe this is an
essential next step to addressing the legacy of the Brumadinho disaster and are
delighted to be working in partnership with UNEP to establish the institute in
the coming year.”
Bruno Oberle,
Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN,
and former Independent Chair of the Global Tailings Review said, “As Chair of
the Global Tailings Review process, my priority was to deliver a credible and
trusted Standard. I am very encouraged by the announcement that an independent
institute will be created to oversee the implementation and ongoing development
of the Standard. The Standard is the product of an extensive
multi-stakeholder and independent process and it will be critical to retain
this model to ensure safe management of tailings facilities globally. I am
particularly pleased to see the continued momentum and attention on this
important topic.”
Know
About Global Tailings Standard
The Global
Tailings Standard has been formally endorsed by the co-convenors of the Global
Tailings Review: the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Principles on Responsible Investment
(PRI).