To coincide with the 75th session of the UN General Assembly – and the SDG Business Forum – the World Gold Council (WGC) has published a report entitled Gold Mining’s Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The report outlines how leading gold mining companies are making a significant contribution towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It includes 39 case studies on how WGC members are bringing about positive change across four thematic areas: global partnerships; social inclusion; economic development; and responsible operations, energy and the environment.
Examples of the commitments the gold mining industry has made towards sustainable strategies include:
Global partnership: WGC members are committed to playing their part in multi-stakeholder partnerships that provide water education and medical supplies to communities.
Social inclusion: WGC members are committed to improve social inclusion in the countries they operate in, through the actions gold mining companies are taking to support a more gender-inclusive workplace, opening opportunities for indigenous people and strengthening their human rights track-record.
Economic development: WGC members support the socio-economic development of the communities in which their mines are located by creating jobs for locals, strengthening public health systems and supporting education programmes.
Responsible operations, energy and the environment: Gold mining companies have made significant strides in introducing energy-efficiency programmes and minimising water consumption at mine sites.
The report also contains three “spotlight” sections, focusing on 1) the work of WGC members in helping to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, 2) the strong links between the SDGs and the Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs) and 3) the significant, and often-overlooked, role gold plays in a range of technologies which are key to driving sustainable development.
Terry Heymann, Chief Financial Officer at the WGC, commented: “The UN’s deadline of 2030 to meet its Sustainable Development Goals will soon be upon us and it is vital that the pandemic is not allowed to postpone the progress made to date. While it presents its own challenges, the current situation has brought the need for sustainable business practices to be at the heart of everything that companies do.”
Caption: The cover of the WGC report on Gold Mining’s Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.