• Agenda
  • Initiatives
  • Reports
  • Events
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Leadership and Governance
    • Our Members and Partners
    • Communities
    • History
    • Klaus Schwab
    • Media
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
    • World Economic Forum USA
    • Privacy and Terms of Use
  • EN ES FR 日本語 中文
  • Login to TopLink

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our updated Cookie Notice.

I accept
    Hamburger
  • World Economic Forum Logo
  • Agenda
  • Initiatives
  • Reports
  • Events
  • About
  • TopLink
  • Search Cancel

Report Home

<Previous Next>
  • Foreword
  • 1. Executive Summary
  • 2. Introduction
  • 3. Setting the Scene – Vision for a Sustainable World
  • 4. Mining and Metals in a Sustainable World
  • 5. Demand Implications for Mining and Metals Companies in a Sustainable World
  • 6. Supply Implications for Mining and Metals Companies in a Sustainable World
  • 7. Changing Rules of the Game in a Sustainable World
  • 8. Drivers of Change
  • 9. Roadmap to a Sustainable World
  • 10. Potential Roles for the World Economic Forum
  • Acknowledgements
  • Contributors
Mining and Metals in a Sustainable World Home Previous Next
  • Report Home
  • Foreword
  • 1. Executive Summary
  • 2. Introduction
  • 3. Setting the Scene – Vision for a Sustainable World
  • 4. Mining and Metals in a Sustainable World
  • 5. Demand Implications for Mining and Metals Companies in a Sustainable World
  • 6. Supply Implications for Mining and Metals Companies in a Sustainable World
  • 7. Changing Rules of the Game in a Sustainable World
  • 8. Drivers of Change
  • 9. Roadmap to a Sustainable World
  • 10. Potential Roles for the World Economic Forum
  • Acknowledgements
  • Contributors

2. Introduction

banner3

 

Share

The world is changing and the key drivers in a sustainable world will soon be fundamentally different from those of today. According to the UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study on Sustainability 2013, 63% of chief executives expect sustainability to transform their industry within five years.3 Mining and metals companies have a tremendous role to play in a sustainable world. The sector operates on every continent except Antarctica and provides materials that are integrated in almost every product and service around the world. Given its scope and essential role, the sector is uniquely positioned to contribute to the transition to a sustainable world.

The project life cycle for mining and metals operations can easily exceed 50 years. In addition, operations are fairly static: if the working environment becomes unsatisfactory, operations cannot be easily moved. Consequently, mining and metals companies are accustomed to investing time and money in developing long-term plans and forecasts, and effective planning helps them to protect their assets.

Planning for the future is not a precise science, and understanding the balance between what is reasonable, courageous and impossible is exceptionally difficult. History suggests, however, that society tends to overestimate what is achievable in the short term and underestimate what can be done in the long term. 

At the Forum’s Annual Meeting 2013, the Governors for the Mining & Metals Industry asked the Forum to prepare a scoping paper on the role and contribution of mining and metals companies in a sustainable world in order to inform the Forum’s future programme of work. This paper seeks to set the strategic vision for mining and metals companies in a sustainable world and to outline their immediate priorities.

Furthermore, the paper identifies potential activities where the Forum can support the mining and metals sector to navigate the transition to a sustainable world.

3
3 UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study on Sustainability 2013, http://www.accenture.com/ungcstudy.
Back to Top
Subscribe for updates
A weekly update of what’s on the Global Agenda
Follow Us
About
Our Mission
Leadership and Governance
Our Members and Partners
The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Communities
History
Klaus Schwab
Our Impact
Media
Pictures
A Global Platform for Geostrategic Collaboration
Careers
Open Forum
Contact Us
Mapping Global Transformations
Code of Conduct
World Economic Forum LLC
Sustainability
World Economic Forum Privacy Policy
Media
News
Accreditation
Subscribe to our news
Members & Partners
Member login to TopLink
Strategic Partners' area
Partner Institutes' area
Global sites
Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Open Forum
Global Shapers
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
EN ES FR 日本語 中文
© 2019 World Economic Forum
Privacy Policy & Terms of Service