Environmental management in the Australian minerals and energy industries : principles and practices

Abstract

FOREWORDSound environmental management is becoming progressively more important as recognition develops -- in governments, in corporations and in the community as a whole -- of both the dependence of human welfare on a properly functioning global environment, and of the magnitude of human impacts on it. Associated with this recognition is an acceptance that, in the future, human activities must, as far as possible, be ecologically sustainable and not adversely affect human health and welfare.Although environmental issues are basically physical or biological in character, concern arises in individual countries and in local communities about activities which affect them, but which are not under their direct control. As a result, the issues become political and economic and extend into areas of trade and investment. Increasingly, customers and lenders are insisting that goods and services must be produced in ecologically sustainable ways. Ethical investment policies and practices are also placing increasing pressure on corporations to implement ecologically sustainable practices.At the government level this is leading to more regulations on practices and products, at the industry level to the establishment of codes of practice, and at the corporate level to increased pressure on corporations to implement ecologically sustainable practices. The outcome of these factors, combined with greater scientific understanding o f the requirements for ecological sustainability, is that standards o f environmental performance are rising. In response, many corporations are introducing best practice into their operations and finding that it can be more efficient and cost effective to be a leader than a follower. The monitoring of environmental performance is also becoming more common, with corporations moving towards independent assessment and public reporting of their performance.Environmental management in the Australian minerals and energy industries is set against this background. Indeed, industry leaders frequently comment that the ability o f the industries to continue to operate freely and effectively in the future will be dependent in large measure on their environmental performance.The industries contain many firms with impressive records of environmental management. However, the processes associated with the activities of the minerals and energy industries have substantial local environmental impacts. Even when contained locally, this leads to public concern that the industries are causing substantial environmental damage and, when the effects extend beyond local areas, the concern is understandably greater.For this concern to be addressed, it is necessary for standards of environmental management to be as high as possible, and to seek to achieve best practice throughout all sectors of the industries and at all stages from exploration to mining and extraction, and to processing.This book is an excellent manual for the industries as they move to a path of continuous improvement in environmental management. It deals with principles of environmental management, with all stages of industry activities, and with different environmental conditions. It also presents a comprehensive set of case histories focussed on individual minerals and other products. In many respects the book provides a blueprint for the development and implementation o f best practice in the minerals and energy industries, and will provide advice and encouragement to all those concerned with environmental management in these key sectors of the Australian economy.The preparation of the book was a major achievement in its own right, involving 20 chapters and 63 contributors. A debt of gratitude is owed to the Australian Minerals and Energy Environment Foundation, to the various sponsors, the editor and chapter authors, and to all others whose efforts led to it being produced.Professor Ralph O. Slatyer, AC FRS FAA FTSEFormer Director, Research School of Biological Sciences,Australian National UniversityFormer Chief Scientist, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet