The International Council on Mining and Metals has published new guidance that aims to help mining and metals companies achieve and maintain no net loss of biodiversity at their operations, and ultimately strive for net gain of biodiversity, as they work towards a nature-positive future.
This new guidance aims to help ICMM members achieve their direct operation commitments set out in ICMM’s Nature Position Statement.
According to the 2024 Living Planet Report, wildlife populations have seen a 73% average decline from 1970 through 2020, largely driven by climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, hunting, overfishing and other environmental impacts of food production.
While the industry is dependent on the essential services provided by healthy ecosystems — such as reliable access to clean water, erosion prevention, and flood control — mining operations often intersect with areas of high biodiversity value and have also historically played a significant role in environmental degradation.
ICMM Environment Director Hayley Zipp says therefore, protecting and conserving nature is not just a responsibility — it is a business imperative.
“Nature and biodiversity loss are a critical global challenge, placing wellbeing and livelihoods of people, ecosystems and our global economy at significant risk. Committing to achieve no net loss or net gain of biodiversity at mining and metals operations is essential for our industry to contribute to the global goal of halting and reversing nature loss,” says Zipp.
“But we must go further. Building a nature-positive future requires multi-stakeholder collaboration, innovation, and accountability. That’s why our members have committed to taking nature action across the value chains, landscapes and systems we operate in. We urge companies across the industry—and those managing significant land areas in other sectors—to take the lead in making commitments that help protect and restore nature for the benefit of all.”
ICMM’s Good Practice Guide for Achieving No Net Loss or Net Gain of Biodiversity outlines a seven-step process, applicable at each stage of the mining lifecycle from a project’s design to post-closure and production, to help companies establish baseline assessments, apply the mitigation hierarchy and transparently disclose progress towards their no net loss, or net gain, goal.
It is a technical resource designed for practitioners at site level and corporate professionals overseeing sustainability and biodiversity strategies to help scale and accelerate the implementation of these approaches across the industry.
ICMM’s guidance builds on decades of experience and lessons learned by our members in rehabilitation, restoration, and no net loss strategies. By integrating real-world examples and global insights, the guidance can help mining and metals companies, regardless of their size, maturity level or location, achieve no net loss or net gain of biodiversity.
Guided by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and shaped by experts and leaders from across industry, civil society, Indigenous Peoples groups and finance, the Position Statement signifies a collective promise to contribute to a nature positive future across four areas of influence – direct operations, value chains, landscapes and systems transformation.
Commitment 1.3 of the Position Statement requires achieving no net loss or net gain of biodiversity by closure for all existing mining operations from a 2020 baseline or earlier, and for all new operations and significant expansions against a pre-operation or pre-expansion baseline, respectively.
To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the World Economic Forum estimates that 3 billion tons of metal will be required—equivalent to the weight of 300,000 Eiffel Towers. Mining plays a crucial role in fulfilling this need.
However, this necessity doesn’t grant the industry a license to operate without accountability. On the contrary, it imposes a responsibility to ensure that mining activities do not jeopardise the long-term health and wellbeing of people or the planet for short-term gains. Mining has the potential to significantly impact ecosystems, communities, and economies.
Responsible mining mitigates these impacts, fostering trust among stakeholders and aligning operations with global objectives such as climate action, biodiversity conservation, and equitable development. Without these safeguards, the societal benefits of mining may be overshadowed by its costs, undermining its role as a driver of sustainable progress. Only through ethical and sustainable practices can mining contribute positively to society and the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
The International Council on Mining and Metals was founded in 2001, as a CEO-led leadership organisation, on the premise of improving sustainable development in the mining and metals industry.ICMM stands for mining with principles. It brings together a third of the global mining and metals industry, along with key partners to drive leadership, action and innovation for sustainable development, ultimately delivering a positive contribution to society.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: NRW & ICMM
