The Responsible Mining Foundation (RMF), a watchdog for sustainability and decarbonisation efforts within the mining industry, has revealed it will be closing down and ceasing operations this year due to a lack of funding after 10 years of operations.
Coal mining has become a heated topic in both the energy transition and the shift from fossil fuels, but also in pushes towards sustainable mining. Credit: Magnifical Productions / Shutterstock
The firm revealed it would be "passing the baton" onto other organisations that wish to push for greener mining, an issue it reports is becoming more important than ever. RMF said that it will bow out with one final report scheduled for release later this year.
The mining sector is currently facing a huge disparity between plans and action, with there still being very little on-the-ground evidence that companies are shifting towards more sustainable mining, it reports.
The RMF's latest report showed that there is a "striking disconnect" between miners and sustainability and that international miners must work harder to ensure sustainability targets are met and social impacts must be taken more seriously.
Read more: "Striking disconnect" between miners and sustainability, RMI report finds
Other reports, many of which we have covered here at Industry Europe, have detailed a "lack of consistency" toward human rights in the mining sector; the wealth of potential and opportunities for green mining despite a lack of development; or its commentary on how the industry affects communities, such as with its commentary on the Juukan Gorge incident.
The RMF specialises in oft-overlooked aspects of analysis such as looking at disaggregated mine site data and offering recommendations on how best to increase sustainability for companies, while also reporting which miners are ahead of the curve regarding sustainability.
Publishing a report every two years, the RMF looked at companies in more than 50 countries supported by stakeholders, industry experts, peers and communities affected by the industry.
"There is so much more to be done before responsible mining becomes a reality," the watchdog issued in a statement announcing its disbandment. "We all have a role to play. As consumers and citizens, we are the beneficiaries of the products of mining, so one can in fact say that ‘we are all mining’".
It remains up to each of us to continue to speak up and ensure continuous momentum to achieve the normalisation of responsible mining. RMF research has shown that it can be done, so while we acknowledge the sincere efforts of many in the mining industry, we also look to formal and informal leaders in all walks of life to help realise both just and responsible mining.
"The time for such change is overdue," it concluded.
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