Responsible Gold Mining Principles

Transcription

Responsible Gold Mining Principles

About the World Gold CouncilContentsThe World Gold Council is the market developmentorganisation for the gold industry. Our purpose is tostimulate and sustain demand for gold, provide industryleadership, and be the global authority on the gold market.A. The Responsible Gold Mining Declaration Governance Social Environment 01010102B. Related responsible mining and sourcing codes 03C. The responsible gold mining principles Governance Social Environment 04040508D. Assurance requirements 10We develop gold-backed solutions, services and products,based on authoritative market insight, and we work with arange of partners to put our ideas into action. As a result,we create structural shifts in demand for gold across keymarket sectors. We provide insights into the internationalgold markets, helping people to understand the wealthpreservation qualities of gold and its role in meeting thesocial and environmental needs of society.Based in the UK, with operations in India, the Far Eastand the US, the World Gold Council is an associationwhose members comprise the world’s leading goldmining companies.For more informationWorld Gold Council10 Old BaileyLondon EC4M 7NGUnited KingdomT 44 20 7826 4700E info@gold.orgW www.gold.orgResponsible Gold Mining Principles

A. The Responsible GoldMining DeclarationWe believe that responsibly undertaken, gold mining playsan important role in supporting sustainable development.The Responsible Gold Mining Principles provide a guidefor stakeholders to what we believe are the key elements ofresponsible gold mining across the mine life-cycle.Responsible gold mining is conducted with respect for theenvironment and the human rights and wellbeing of ouremployees, contractors and members of the communitiesassociated with our activities. When coupled with goodgovernance, responsible gold mining delivers benefitsfor host countries and local communities. It contributesto socio-economic development through increasingprosperity, providing jobs and supply chain opportunities,and raising technical standards through innovation andbuilding skills. Through partnerships with governmentsand other actors, it enables investment in infrastructureand improvements in public services.Our stakeholders – including governments, investors,employees and contractors, communities, supply chainpartners and civil society – expect that the developmentof gold resources will be conducted responsibly and thatgold mining companies will act in ways that are ethical,transparent, accountable and respectful of the rights ofothers. We recognise the importance of increasing thediversity of our workforce, including the representationof women and other historically under-representedgroups, so that it better reflects the make-up of thesocieties of which we are a part.We seek to gain and retain the support of authoritiesand affected communities throughout the exploration,development, production and closure phases of the minelife-cycle. In order to deliver sustainable development,we will seek, through dialogue, to work in partnershipwith others, to leave a positive legacy for host countries,local people and future generations.In many locations, formal gold mining operations interfacewith artisanal and small-scale (ASM) gold miners. Werecognise that ASM represents an important source oflivelihoods. Where ASM is conducted responsibly and withrespect for formal mining titles, we will seek to supportASM groups in the adoption of safer working methods andmore socially and environmentally responsible practicesand, where relevant, will consider the potential foralternative livelihood programmes.Responsible Gold Mining PrinciplesGold plays a unique role in the global economy and inprotecting the financial security of nations, communitiesand families, and in enabling advances in medical,environmental and communication technologies. Publictrust is fundamental to the many positive roles that goldplays in society. To maintain and strengthen that trust,as leading gold mining companies we commit to thefollowing Principles:Governance1 Ethical conduct: we will conduct our business withintegrity including absolute opposition to corruption.2 Understanding our impacts: we will engage withour stakeholders and implement management systemsso as to ensure that we understand and manage ourimpacts, realise opportunities and provide redresswhere needed.3 Supply chain: we will require that our suppliersconduct their businesses ethically and responsiblyas a condition of doing business with us.Social4 Safety and health: we will protect and promotethe safety and occupational health of our workforce(employees and contractors) above all other priorities,and will empower them to speak up if they encounterunsafe working conditions.5 Human rights and conflict: we will respect thehuman rights of our workforce, affected communitiesand all those people with whom we interact.6 Labour rights: we will ensure that our operations areplaces where employees and contractors are treatedwith respect and are free from discrimination orabusive labour practices.7 Working with communities: we aim to contributeto the socio-economic advancement of communitiesassociated with our operations and to treat them withdignity and respect.01

Environment8 Environmental stewardship: we will ensurethat environmental responsibility is at the coreof how we work.9 Biodiversity, land use and mine closure: we willwork to ensure that fragile ecosystems, critical habitatsand endangered species are protected from damageand we will plan for responsible mine closure.10 Water, energy and climate change: we willimprove the efficiency of our use of water and energy,recognising that the impacts of climate change andwater constraints may increasingly become a threatto the locations where we work and a risk to ourlicence to operate.These Principles apply to gold mining companies.Providers of finance and capital should use their bestendeavours to encourage the adoption of this frameworkat gold mining operations where they have influence.Responsible Gold Mining Principles02

B. Related responsible miningand sourcing codesThrough conducting our businesses responsibly, we aimto contribute to the delivery of the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals developed by the United Nations. Responsible goldmining involves the careful management of risks; but itshould also be about the realisation of opportunities forthose whose lives we touch.We support internationally recognised normativestandards such as the International Bill of Human Rights,the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,the Principles of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), theUN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples(UNDRIP), the OECD Guidelines for MultinationalEnterprises, the OECD Convention on Combating Briberyof Foreign Public Officials in International BusinessTransactions, the Gold Supplement of the OECD DueDiligence Guidance for Responsible Sourcing of Mineralsfrom Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, the OECDDue Diligence Guidance for Responsible BusinessConduct, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative(EITI), the Voluntary Principles on Security and HumanRights (VPSHRs) and the International Council on Miningand Metals’ Performance Expectations.Our objective is to deliver responsibly produced gold intothe market. We aim to complement the objectives of theLondon Bullion Market Association’s (LBMA) ResponsibleGold Guidance as part of our commitment to co-operatewith downstream actors in delivering on their responsiblesourcing obligations. We will also have regard to relevantelements of the LBMA Global Precious Metals Code. Thisinvolves ensuring high standards of corporate governance,including robust frameworks for compliance, due diligenceand risk management.Responsible Gold Mining PrinciplesCompanies that implement the Principles will be requiredto report publicly on their conformance. Conformancewith the Principles as articulated in Part C will be subjectto independent assurance (see Part D). Continuousimprovement is an important aspect of responsible mining.As such, implementing companies will be required toreport on any temporary deviations from conformanceand, where required, the steps being undertaken toachieve remediation.The Principles are grouped into environmental, social andgovernance (ESG) related topics – reflecting a frameworkincreasingly used by investors. The governance elementsappear first since legal compliance is a foundationalconsideration and a number of the Principles relate, inturn, to the management of both environmental and socialissues covered in subsequent Principles.These Principles were developed through an extensiveprogramme of consultation and outreach to stakeholders.We thank them for their advice and recognise that theirinput has helped us to create a more credible and widelysupported framework.03

C. The responsible goldmining principles1GovernancePrinciple 1 – Ethical conduct: we will conductour businesses with integrity including absoluteopposition to corruptionLegal compliance1.1 As a minimum expectation, we will comply withapplicable host and home country laws and relevantinternational law, and will maintain systems to deliverthis objective.Code of conduct1.2 We will maintain a code of conduct to make clearthe standards with which we expect our employees,and those with whom we do business, to comply.We will actively promote awareness of our codeand implement systems to monitor and ensurecompliance.Combating bribery and corruption1.3 We will put in place controls to combat bribery andcorruption in all their forms, conflicts of interest andanti-competitive behaviour by employees, agentsor other company representatives.Political contributions1.4 We will disclose the value and beneficiaries offinancial and in-kind political contributions that wemake, whether directly or through an intermediary.Transparency1.5 We will publish our tax, royalty and other paymentsto governments annually by country and project.We support the principles of the Extractive IndustriesTransparency Initiative (EITI) and will encouragegovernments to promote greater transparency aroundrevenue flows, mining contracts and the beneficialownership of licence holders.Taxes and transfer pricing1.6 We will pay the taxes and royalties required by hostcountry codes. We will seek to ensure that transferpricing outcomes are in line with fair businesspractices and value creation.Principle 2 – Understanding our impacts: we willengage with our stakeholders2 and implementmanagement systems so as to ensure that weassess, understand and manage our impacts, realiseopportunities and provide remedy where neededRisk management2.1 We will maintain systems to identify and prevent ormanage both the risks that face our operations andthose which our activities may pose to others.Stakeholder engagement2.2 We will listen to and engage with stakeholdersin order to understand better their interests andconcerns and integrate this knowledge into howwe do business.Due diligence2.3 We will regularly and systematically conduct duediligence to identify human rights, corruption andconflict risks associated with our activities and in oursupply chain with the intention of preventing adverseimpacts. We will exercise risk-based due diligenceon those entities to which we sell our products.Impact assessment2.4 We will conduct impact assessments that involvesubstantive environmental components, socioeconomic (including human rights where relevant)and cultural elements, and ensure that these areperiodically updated. We will seek to identify andtake account of local cumulative impacts. We willensure that such assessments are accessible toaffected communities and include plans to avoid,minimise, mitigate or compensate3 for significantadverse impacts.Resolving grievances2.5 We will establish fair, accessible, effective andtimely mechanisms through which complaints andgrievances related to our activities can be raisedand resolved and remedies implemented. Thoseraising such grievances in good faith will not facediscrimination or retaliation as a result of raisingtheir concerns.Accountabilities and reporting1.7 We will assign accountability for our sustainabilityperformance at Board and/or Executive Committeelevel. We will report publicly each year on ourimplementation of the Responsible Gold MiningPrinciples.1 The Principles and supporting Assurance Framework have been drafted in English. If the Principles are used in other languages, the English version shouldtake precedence and be regarded as the source document.2 We recognise that in some countries a distinction is drawn between the terms “stakeholders” and “rights holders”. This distinction is notexplicitly drawn in most other jurisdictions. Thus, in this document, we use the term “stakeholders” to incorporate “rights holders”.3 Implementing companies are expected to adopt a mitigation hierarchy approach whereby they seek to anticipate and avoid adverse impacts.Where avoidance is not possible, they should seek to minimise or mitigate such impacts. Where residual impacts remain, companies shouldcompensate/offset for significant risks or impacts to workers, affected communities and the environment.Responsible Gold Mining Principles04

Principle 3 – Supply chain: we will require that oursuppliers conduct their businesses ethically andresponsibly as a condition of doing business with usSupply Chain Policy3.1 We will adopt and publish a Supply Chain Policy andsupport our contractors and suppliers to operateresponsibly and to standards of ethics, safety,health, human rights and social and environmentalperformance comparable with our own. We willconduct risk-based monitoring of compliance.Local procurement3.2 We will promote access for local businesses toprocurement and contracting opportunities generatedby our operations and, where appropriate, providecapacity building support to help them improve theircapabilities as suppliers.Market access for ASM3.3 We support access to legitimate markets for thoseartisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) who respectapplicable legal and regulatory frameworks, who seekto address the environmental, health, human rightsand safety challenges often associated with ASMactivity, and who, in good faith, seek formalisation.We will consider supporting government initiativesto reduce and eliminate the use of mercury by ASM.SocialPrinciple 4 – Safety and health: we will protect andpromote the safety and occupational health of ourworkforce (employees and contractors4) above allother priorities and will empower them to speak upif they encounter unsafe working conditionsSafety4.1 We will be proactive in preventing fatalitiesand injuries to our workforce. Regular safetytraining will be conducted and personal protectiveequipment will be supplied at no cost to ourworkforce. Our objective is zero harm.Safety management systems4.2 We will implement safety and health managementsystems based on internationally recognised goodpractice and focused on continuous improvement ofour performance. We will engage regularly on theseissues with our workforce and their representatives.Occupational health and wellbeing4.3 We will maintain high standards of occupationalhealth and hygiene and implement risk-basedmonitoring of the health of our workforce based onoccupational exposures. We will promote the physicaland mental wellbeing of our workforce.Community health and emergency planning4.4 We will identify and eliminate or minimise significantrisks to the health and safety of local people as aresult of our activities and those of our contractors.We will develop, maintain and test emergencyresponse plans based on national regulations andinternational best practice guidelines, ensuring theinvolvement of potentially affected stakeholders.4 We intend the term “contractors” to embrace both individuals and companies (including sub-contractors) working under contract at,or connected to, a mine or project site.Responsible Gold Mining Principles05

Principle 5 – Human rights and conflict: we willrespect the human rights of our workforce, affectedcommunities and all those people with whomwe interactPrinciple 6 – Labour rights: we will ensure thatour operations are places where employees andcontractors are treated with respect and are freefrom discrimination or abusive labour practicesUN Guiding Principles5.1 We will adopt and implement policies, practices andsystems based on the UN Guiding Principleson Business and Human Rights.Wages and benefits6.1 We will ensure that our workforce receives fairwages and benefits relative to relevant nationaland local benchmarks, norms and regulations.Avoiding complicity5.2 We will seek to ensure that we do not cause, and arenot complicit in, human rights abuses either directlyor through our business relationships.Preventing discrimination and bullying6.2 We will engage regularly and constructively with ouremployees and their representatives and strive toensure a workplace free from bullying or harassmentand unfair discrimination.Security and human rights5.3 We will manage security-related human rights risksthrough implementation of the Voluntary Principleson Security and Human Rights.5Conflict5.4 We will implement the Conflict-Free Gold Standard.We will ensure that when we operate in conflictaffected or high-risk areas our operations do notcause, support or benefit unlawful armed conflictor contribute to human rights abuses or breachesof international humanitarian law.Child and forced labour6.3 We prohibit child labour, forced labour and modernslavery in our operations and in our supply chains.Freedom of association and collective bargaining6.4 We will uphold the legal rights of our workforce toassociate with others and to join, or to refrain fromjoining, labour organisations of their choice and tobargain collectively without discriminationor retaliation.Diversity6.5 We will implement policies and practices to promotediversity at all levels of the company, including therepresentation and inclusion of historically underrepresented groups and will report on our progress.Women and mining6.6 We are committed to identifying and resolvingbarriers to the advancement and fair treatment ofwomen in our workplaces. Through our employment,supply chain, training and community investmentprogrammes, we will aim to contribute to thesocio-economic empowerment of women in thecommunities associated with our operations.Raising concerns6.7 We will provide a confidential mechanism throughwhich employees and others associated with ouractivities may raise ethical concerns and which willprovide protection from retaliation for those whoraise concerns in good faith.5 This does not require implementing companies to become parties to the VPSHRs plenary process.Responsible Gold Mining Principles06

Principle 7 – Working with communities: we willcontribute to the socio-economic advancement ofcommunities associated with our operations andtreat them with dignity and respectCommunity consultation7.1 We will consult regularly and in good faith withthe communities associated with our operationson matters of interest to them, and will takeaccount of their perspectives and concerns.Understanding communities7.2 We will ensure that we engage with communities,including traditional leaders, in a culturally appropriatemanner. We will be alert to the dangers of causingdifferentially negative impacts on women, children,Indigenous Peoples and other potentially vulnerableor marginalised groups. We will strive to ensure thatthe voices of these groups are heard and that thisknowledge is integrated into how we do business.Cultural heritage7.7 We will seek to preserve cultural heritage fromadverse impacts associated with project activities,including through our impact assessments.We will put in place chance finds proceduresat all relevant operations.Resettlement7.8 We will seek to avoid involuntary resettlement. Wherethis is unavoidable, we will proceed on the basis ofmeaningful consultation with affected communities,a publicly available planning framework, the restorationof established livelihoods and the provision of fairand timely compensation. We will seek to minimiseadverse impacts on displaced people.Creating local benefits7.3 We will ensure that the communities associated withour operations are offered meaningful opportunitiesto benefit from our presence, including through accessto jobs and training, and procurement opportunities forlocal businesses and social investment.Seeking community support7.4 We will seek to obtain and sustain the broad-basedsupport of communities affected by our activities.In-migration7.5 We will work with local authorities and communityleaders to control or manage the impact of migratoryinfluxes of people attracted by mine development.Indigenous Peoples7.6 We will respect the collective and customary rights,culture and connection to the land of IndigenousPeoples. We will work to obtain their free, priorand informed consent where significant adverseimpacts may occur during exploration, project design,operation and closure, including around the deliveryof sustainable benefits.Responsible Gold Mining Principles07

EnvironmentPrinciple 8 – Environmental stewardship: we willensure that environmental responsibility is at thecore of how we workManaging environmental impacts8.1 We will implement systems to monitor and manageour impacts on the environment. We will avoid,minimise, mitigate or compensate for significantadverse impacts on the environment relatingto our activities.Tailings and waste management8.2 We will design, build, manage and decommissiontailings storage and heap-leaching facilities andlarge-scale water infrastructure using ongoingmanagement and governance practices in line withwidely supported good practice guidelines. We willnot develop a new mine that would involve the useof riverine or shallow submarine tailings.Cyanide and hazardous materials8.3 We will identify and manage potential risks relatingto the transportation, handling, storage and disposalof all hazardous materials. Where our operations usecyanide, we will ensure that our arrangements for thetransport, storage, use and disposal of cyanide arein line with the standards of practice set out in theInternational Cyanide Management Code.Mercury8.4 We will not use mercury to extract gold in ourprocessing facilities nor accept gold producedby third parties using mercury. We support theMinamata Convention’s objective of reducingmercury emissions for the protection of human healthand the environment. We will identify point sourcemercury emissions to the atmosphere arising fromour activities and minimise them. We will only sellmercury thereby captured for uses recognised asacceptable by international conventions.Principle 9 – Biodiversity, land use and mine closure:we will work to ensure that fragile ecosystems,habitats and endangered species are protected fromdamage, and will plan for responsible mine closureBiodiversity9.1 We will implement biodiversity management plans.At a minimum, we will seek to ensure that there isno net loss of critical habitat. Where opportunitiesarise to do so, we will work with others to producea net gain for biodiversity. We will incorporate bothscientific and traditional knowledge in designingadaptation strategies in ecosystem managementand environmental assessment.World Heritage Sites9.2 We will not explore or seek to develop new miningoperations in an area designated as a WorldHeritage Site.Land use and deforestation9.3 We recognise the importance of integrated land useplanning. In determining our project footprint, wewill give meaningful consideration to the land accessneeds of nearby communities and to the preservationof biodiversity. We will aim to minimise deforestationarising from our activities.Mine closure9.4 We will plan for the social and environmental aspectsof mine closure in consultation with authorities, ourworkforce, affected communities and other relevantstakeholders. We will make financial and technicalprovision to ensure planned closure and post-closurecommitments are realised, including the rehabilitationof land, beneficial future land use, preservation ofwater sources and prevention of acid rock drainageand metal leaching.Noise and dust8.5 We will adopt and implement policies and practicesto avoid or mitigate impacts on local communitiesand the environment arising from noise, dust, blastingand vibration.Responsible Gold Mining Principles08

Principle 10 – Water, energy and climate change:we will improve the efficiency of our use of waterand energy, recognising that the impacts of climatechange and water constraints may increasinglybecome a threat to the locations where we workand a risk to our licence to operateWater efficiency10.1 We will use water efficiently and responsibly andin co-operation with authorities and, where possible,other users. When we operate in water-stressedareas, we will take proportionate and practicablesteps to improve the efficiency of our water use andseek to reduce our water footprint, including, wherepossible, through increased recycling.Water access and quality10.2 Recognising that access to water is a human rightand fundamental ecosystem requirement, we willmanage our operations so as to ensure that they donot adversely affect the overall quality of catchmentwater resources available to other users.Combating climate change10.3 We support the objectives of global climate accordsthrough avoidance, reduction or mitigation of carbonemissions. Where relevant, we will work to enhancethe ability of our operations and nearby communitiesto be resilient to the effects of climate change.Energy efficiency and reporting10.4 We will work to improve the efficiency of ourenergy use and to minimise our greenhouse gasemissions intensity. We will measure and reporton our CO2 equivalent emissions in line withaccepted reporting standards.Responsible Gold Mining Principles09

D. Assurance requirementsCompanies wishing to be recognised as implementing theResponsible Gold Mining Principles are required to obtainindependent assurance on their conformance. Such assurancemust be provided by credible organisations that meetdemanding criteria. The purpose of independent assuranceis to give stakeholders confidence that implementing goldminers are living up to their stated intention to observe highstandards of corporate governance and of environmental andsocial performance.The Principles require implementing companies to:Two public reports are associated with the assurance:1. Make a public commitment to align with theResponsible Gold Mining Principles1. An annual report on implementation of the ResponsibleGold Mining Principles produced by the implementingcompany2. Develop internal systems, processes and performancethat conform with the Principles3. Report publicly on the status of their conformance withthe Principles4. Obtain independent assurance on their conformancewith the Principles.The Principles are supported by an Assurance Framework.This Framework provides guidance, with illustrativeexamples, on how an assurance provider can assure anorganisation’s conformance with the RGMPs.Assurance over the RGMPs is required at both corporateand site levels. Corporate assurance will focus onpolicies and approach; site-level assurance will focuson implementation. The number of sites visited by theassurance provider will depend on the size of the companyand the ESG-related risks across the company’s portfolio.In order for assurance to be delivered, implementingcompanies are required to report publicly each yearon their conformance with the RGMPs. Implementingcompanies should be transparent if they fall out ofconformance, including how they have done so, andon what timescale they expect their conformanceto be restored.Responsible Gold Mining Principles2. An Independent Assurance Report produced annuallyby the assurance provider.The Principles provide a demanding framework. Fullimplementation of the systems, policies, procedures andperformance required to conform with all of the applicablePrinciples may take some time. Therefore, in the first andsecond years, implementing companies will be required toreport on their progress towards achieving conformance,and the assurance providers’ work in these years will beadjusted accordingly. Although some companies mayachieve conformance more quickly, by the third year afteradoption all implementing companies’ internal systemsand process should conform with the Principles and this,as well as their underlying performance, will need to beindependently assured.The approach set out in the Assurance Framework hasbeen designed to be flexible and practical, and to avoidduplication of existing assurance activities that a companymay already be commissioning.10

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Responsible Gold Mining Principles 03 We support internationally recognised normative standards such as the International Bill of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Principles of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the OECD Guidelines for Multinational