This report presents the findings of a pilot study on ESG due diligence and transparency policies and practices among a sample of 25 companies in the extractive commodity trading sector.
The Responsible Mining Foundation has been tracking gender action by mining companies since 2017 and the latest results are just in. The findings again show striking contrasts in what companies choose to focus on – gender balance in headquarter teams is quite widely addressed while gender in affected communities is largely ignored.
Commendable and important as mining companies’ commitments to become carbon-neutral are, emissions reduction is only one element of a responsible response to climate change. Recent research by RMF reveals that action to assess and address climate-related risks on people and environments impacted by mining – yet essential for a just transition – is conspicuously missing from current efforts by mining companies.
Recent initiatives by ETH and RMF illustrate the potential for mining-affected communities to actively engage with local mining companies on environmental issues.
Recent research by RMF shows that very few of the companies making these trades disclose data about the payments they make. Normalisation of the public disclosure of commodity trading transactions is critically important to support financial integrity and good governance of extractive resources.
At the second anniversary of the tailings dam burst in Brumadinho, Brazil that killed at least 270 people and destroyed the livelihoods and environments for many others, the mining industry seems more willing than ever to take the issue of tailings risks seriously.