Sustainability Impacts Standard for Mining Under Development

How can organizations in the mining sector improve reporting on their sustainability performance, demonstrating accountability for their shared sustainability challenges and meet growing demands for transparency?

A new Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standard is planned to fulfil these requirements – through a globally-applicable standard for the sector. Recruitment is now open to apply to join the Mining Sector Standard Working Group. GRI’s Global Sustainability Standards Board is seeking individuals with reporting or sustainability expertise in mining or quarrying, who can help shape the standard.

Mining has been confirmed under the GRI Sector Program as the next standard to be developed, primarily based on the environmental impacts of the sector, often concentrated in and around extraction sites. In addition, the impacts of mining operations stretch across social dimensions – including human rights – and economic factors, such as mineral exports and employment creation.

Bastian Buck, GRI Chief of Standards, said:

“Sector Standards will help organizations increase their transparency, by focusing reporting on the issues that matter most. They will drive global consistency in the way companies within sectors disclose their shared impacts, illuminating how their actions can promote sustainable business practices.

I would encourage individuals with relevant experience, working in or with mining and quarrying operators, to consider applying to join our Mining Working Group. We need diverse representation to ensure that the final Standard reflects the reporting needs of the sector and its key stakeholders.”

GRI Sector Standards are planned to cover 40 sectors, with those with the highest sustainability impacts being initially prioritized. The first completed Sector Standard – for oil and gas – is expected in October, while plans for standards covering coal, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing are at an advanced stage.

Following the appointment of working group members, the draft Sector Standard for Mining will be created during 2022-23, including a global public comment period, with an expected release date in Q3 2023.

Access the working group application form for more information on the requirements and how to apply. The deadline is 24:00 CET on 26 September 2021.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing the global common language to report those impacts. The GRI Standards - the world's most widely used sustainability reporting standards - are developed through a multi-stakeholder process and provided as a free public good.