Mining for Closure: Policies, practises and guidelines for sustainable mining and closure of mines

Box 3 A proposed approach for the Post-Mining Alliance (Post Mining Alliance, 2005)

utilitarian measures that can encourage uptake re- main largely outside the remit for such initiatives. This provides some indication of the gap that this document must seek to fill. Further, it is desirable that concrete examples of the types of works required are available upon which to base initiatives in SEE. Here, notable actions are being undertaken in some national jurisdictions. One leading example shall be taken up prior to moving to an examination of the underlying rea- sons for mine abandonment in Section 4.3. The underlying philosophy of the initiative is that mine closure planning and the adverse impacts of mining legacy should be addressed by a wider con- stituency than mining companies alone. While there is significant activity in post-mining regeneration being undertaken worldwide, there is a clear need for co-ordination in identifying, collating and dis- seminating good practices, and further integrating social, economic and environmental factors. One of the key challenges is to promote much wider adop- tion of current good practice in integrated closure by those who, for a variety of reasons, do not conform to this standard or expectation. There is a need to understand what constrains the adoption of good practice. At the same time, particularly in develop- ing countries, regulators and other stakeholders are calling for more guidance and capacity-building to ensure that good practice can be more easily identi- fied, understood, acknowledged and implemented. 71. Delineation of such approaches – or the manner in which stakeholders influence, and can be influenced, can be found in sources such as Mitchell et al (1997). Refer also to the discussion of policy measures in Section 1.5. 72. Note that some proposed work areas address more than one area or measure. policy makers and legislators at all levels of govern- ment, companies, the investment community, local communities and non-governmental organisations. A small secretariat coordinates the Alliance at the Eden Project, Cornwall, UK. Key activities of the Al- liance will include: Benchmarking good practice Developing demonstration models Convening & facilitating workshops • • •

here include 1) coercive measures; 2) utilitarian measures supplying some form of material incen- tive; 3) measures intended to supply or enhance capacity and 4) measures taken to influence the norms of industry and other stakeholders. 71 These categories, assessed in Table 2 indicate that the focus of this initiative (and similar initiatives) are predominantly targeted at influencing capacity re- lated and normative factors within the shift to more sustainable mining practice (i.e. what capacity ac- tors have to perform, and what social norms actors seek to comply to or feel bound to comply with). 72 The brief examination documented in the table in- dicates that the key focus of the initiative is upon the influencing of norms, and the stimulation of capacity building. The stimulation of suitable coer- cive measures to frame absolute requirements for Mining for Closure and the creation of models for The Approach The Post-Mining Alliance aims to become the world leader in co-ordinating information exchange and facilitating the implementation of good practice in integrated mine closure planning, and in dealing with the adverse social and environmental legacy of orphaned and abandoned mines. It will pro- mote a multi-stakeholder approach in which risks, responsibilities and opportunities are shared. It will optimise engagement between mining sector stakeholders, and build a network to transfer ide- as, knowledge and technology globally and deliver action locally. Action on these issues will require innovation on a number of fronts: Inventive technological solutions – both engi- neering and biological Creative financial mechanisms – to release funds from diverse sources New legal instruments – to overcome the his- torical stumbling blocks Unconventional partnerships – involving both the public and private sectors, and embracing players who are not usually engaged in post- mining regeneration. The Alliance will be an international organisation in subject scope, membership and operational influ- ence. The critical audiences have been identified as • • • •

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MINING FOR CLOSURE