"Global Tailings Review launches public consultation", 18 December 2019

...Dr Bruno Oberle, Chair of the Global Tailings Review, has launched a public consultation on the draft Global Tailings Standard today. The consultation will collect feedback from all interested stakeholders in order to develop a robust, fit-for-purpose international standard for the safer management of tailings. The consultation ends on 31 December 2019. The Global Tailings Review was co-convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) following the catastrophic tailings dam collapse at Brumadinho, Brazil on 25 January 2019, to establish an international standard on tailings facilities management. The final Global Tailings Standard will need to be endorsed by all three Co-Convenors.The public consultation will take place in two parts. Firstly, online via a survey which has been translated into seven languages. Secondly, in-country consultations across a range of mining jurisdictions in the northern and southern hemispheres...Dr. Oberle, Chair of the Global Tailings Review, said: “The public consultation phase allows for critique, feedback and suggestions from others that both informs and enriches the draft Standard, and we invite all stakeholders to share their diverse insights and points of view to help drive the change process forward. The draft Standard is one part of a wider global drive to strengthen performance on tailings management and the requirements of the draft Standard can complement these initiatives, for example, in areas such as corporate governance and public reporting.”...Adam Matthews, from the Church of England Pensions Board representing the Principles for Responsible Development (PRI), said: “The Brumadinho disaster should never have happened and as a result we are all challenged to look at how the issue of tailings dams are addressed both in terms of the legacy of tailings facilities, the future operation of existing tailings facilities and future standards when a company decides if a tailings facility is needed. There are a number of responses underway and the development of a new standard by this Independent Review will be a key tool for companies in driving best practice. We are mindful that zero harm to people and environment has to be the objective and the standard has an important role to play to achieving a mining sector whose tailings facilities are operating to such a standard.”...