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Editorial
fortuna favet fortibus
ISSUE 23.03
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SEPTEMBER
GLOBAL MANAGING EDITOR
Tim Wilbur
SENIOR EDITOR
Zena Olijnyk
EDITOR
Aidan Macnab
PRODUCTION PROCESS LEAD
Alina Leigh
PRODUCTION EDITORS
Christina Jelinek, Wen-Ching Shang
WRITERS
Kiezzsa Cruz, Lucy Saddleton
DESIGNERS
Khaye Cortez, Loiza Razon
PRESIDENT
Tim Duce
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Lynda Fenton
SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Steffanie Munroe
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Maurice Phillips
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Matthew Oriel
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E
SG (environmental, social, and governance) considerations have been
with the mining industry for decades. Mining companies have long
been aware of how their operations affect external stakeholders and
how that can impact their business in the longer term.
While ESG as a concept has not changed, its implementation on the
ground has evolved tremendously.
"We're seeing that the focus of mining companies has adapted from simply
meeting environmental standards to looking at broader matters of environ-
mental stewardship," says Robin Longe at Dentons Canada LLP (p. 4).
And it is not just environmental concerns that keep mining executives up at
night. Partnering with Indigenous peoples and new business models are also
top of mind, according to an EY (Ernst & Young ) survey of mining executives.
Yet this same survey also found a perception of "more opportunities than
risks for miners willing to make the transformational changes that can drive
long-term value for organizations and the communities they serve."
One major shi is ensuring ESG concerns are more than just superficial
commitments. "ere is going to be a move away from boilerplate language,"
says Jen Hansen at Cassels Brock and Blackwell LLP (p. 5). "It won't be
enough for regulators and stakeholders alike."
"ESG has gone from a 'nice to have' element of corporate strateg y to a
'must have,'" says Andrew McLaughlin at Major Drilling (p. 6), "as inves-
tors, customers, and those in the company's supply chain demand more from
mining companies."
Enhanced ESG disclosure can also create opportunities for companies to
attract investors and lenders have publicly committed to these issues when
making investment decisions.
Some see the mining industry as a contrib utor to ESG problems, espe-
cially environmental issues. Yet, the move away from fossil fuels has also put
the mining industry at the centre of some solutions.
e rise of electric car technolog y and interest in driving electric cars
has meant that critical minerals such as lithium and copper – components
in making batteries – have become an essential part of sustainability, says
Ravipal Bains at McMillan LLP (p. 6).
As the legal experts in this Special Edition will attest, ESG considerations
will continue to evolve and deepen. e mining companies who are on
board, and their external stakeholders, only stand to benefit.
Tim Wilbur, global managing editor
Mining steps up on ESG
