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Increasingly, companies are being judged by their performance in terms of Environmental Social Governance (ESG). But exactly what does it mean, and what should be done about it? While much ambiguity exists, it is no longer sufficient to negotiate the environmental assessment process successfully. ESG is an ongoing process that spans the entire life cycle of a company and its operations.This book is aimed at business leaders – senior executives and company directors – and particularly those involved in the extractive industries and other ventures that significantly affect the environment and host communities. Guidance is provided on the major ESG issues that confront all business leaders. Strategies are provided to address ESG risk and to handle crises when they occur.QUESTIONS FOR BUSINESS LEADERS:Are you at all prepared for an environmental or social crisis event?How will you cope with the'unknown unknowns'?What do your shareholders expect you to do about climate change?Are your employees proud of the company's ESG performance?How does your bank evaluate your biodiversity impacts?

The history of mining is replete with controversy of which much is related to environmental damage and consequent community outrage. Over recent decades, this has led to increased pressure to improve the environmental and social performance of mining operations, particularly in developing countries. The industry has responded by embracing the ideals of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Mining and the Environment identifies and discusses the wide range of social and environmental issues pertaining to mining, with particular reference to mining in developing countries, from where many of the project examples and case studies have been selected. Following an introductory overview of pressing issues, the book illustrates how environmental and social impact assessment, such as defined in'The Equator Principles', integrates with the mining lifecycle and how environmental and social management aims to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive mining impacts. Practical approaches are provided for managing issues ranging from land acquisition and resettlement of Indigenous peoples, to the technical aspects of acid rock drainage and mine waste management. Moreover, thorough analyses of ways and means of sharing non-transitory mining benefits with host communities are presented to allow mining to provide sustainable benefits for the affected communities. This second edition of Mining and the Environment includes new chapters on Health Impact Assessment, Biodiversity and Gender Issues, all of which have become more important since the first edition appeared a decade ago.The wide coverage of issues and the many real-life case studies make this practice-oriented book a reference and key reading. It is intended for environmental consultants, engineers, regulators and operators in the field and for students to use as a course textbook. As much of the matter applies to the extractive industries as a whole, it will also serve environmental professionals in the oil and gas industries.Karlheinz Spitz and John Trudinger both have multiple years of experience in the assessment of mining projects around the world. The combination of their expertise and knowledge about social, economic, and environmental performance of mining and mine waste management has resulted in this in-depth coverage of the requirements for responsible and sustainable mining.