Foundational mechanisms

Underpinning voluntary sustainability standards for mining, minerals and metals are basic frameworks, protocols and guidance from international organisations and multilateral agencies. Some are auditable: others are principles or guidance documents. Together they form a foundation of good practice and are referenced in more specific industry standards.

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

Financial Stability Board (FSB)

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards

GHG Protocol – https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard

Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF). www.igfmining.org

  • The IGF is a multi-lateral organization consisting of 85 member states and brings national regulators together to build a consensus on what effective regulatory regimes look like. In 2023, the member states ratified an updated version of the MPF.

International Finance Corporation (IFC)/World Bank Group

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation

International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)

MMSD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas

Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) https://sciencebasedtargets.org/

The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures https://tnfd.global/

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Resource Panel

United Nations Expert Group on Resource Management (EGRM) https://unece.org/sustainable-energy/sustainable-resource-management/expert-group-resource-management-egrm

United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) https://www.unpri.org/

United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP) https://uncefact.github.io/spec-untp/

  • UNTP is digital coding and taxonomy “supporting governments and industry on practical measures to counter greenwashing by implementing supply chain traceability and transparency at the scale needed to achieve meaningful impacts on global sustainability outcomes.”