Conference on
Socially and environmentally responsible mining
November 27–28, 2012
Dipoli, Espoo, Finland
From the beginning of the millennium, mining has globally been experiencing extraordinary and unprecedented booms. Some observers describe this as a “super cycle”. This rapid increase in mining activity, in various localities, has brought major impacts onto local life. The consequences to the world with all of the resulting challenges - environmental, social, and political - have brought about global efforts to develop “sustainable”, “responsible”, and “green” mining.
What is the role of social and environmental responsibility in the global development of mining businesses? How should the management of mining and community relations, as well as any local mining conflicts be effectively achieved? What does “responsible mining” mean in different societal and cultural contexts?
Tentative programme
Tuesday 27 November
11:00 Opening of the conference
Minister Heidi Hautala, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, International Development, Finland
11.30 Mining responsibly: social and environmental challenges facing the global mining industry and how to address them (Presentation PDF)
Professor, Deputy Director David Brereton, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, Australia
Comment: Challenges of responsible mining in Finland?
Environmental Manager Joanna Kuntonen-van´t Riet, Notrhland Resouces
12:45 Lunch
13:45 Developing responsible mining and the implementation of the EITI in Kyrgyzstan (Presentation PDF)
Karybek Ibraev, the Head of the EITI Secretariat in Kyrgyzstan
Comment: Chairman Pasi Rinne, Gaia Group
(Presentation PDF)
14.45 How local communities experience new mining sites in Finland: Cases Talvivaara & Pampalo (Presentation PDF)
Researcher Tuija Mononen, University of Eastern Finland
15.15 Session for brainstorming and coffee
16:00 Public opinion on mining in Finland (Presentation PDF)
Researchers Tuija Jartti and Tapio Litmanen, University of Jyväskylä
16:30 Social responsibility strategies and public communication of mining companies in Finland (Presentation PDF)
Researcher Teijo Rytteri, University of Eastern Finland
Comment: Journalist Samuli Laita, Helsingin Sanomat
Results of the brainstorming (PDF)
17:30 End of the day
18:30 Dinner at the Restaurant Ranta, Radisson SAS Blue Hotel, Espoo
Wednesday 28 November
9:00 Opening of the day (Presentation PDF)
State Secretary Janne Metsämäki, Ministry of Employment and the Economy (MEE), Finland
9.30 Societies expectations of responsible mining and the importance of working together (Presentation PDF)
Manager of Government and Community Relations Froydis Cameron, Anglo American
Comment: A customer perspective – what is expected from mining companies as an important part of a sustainable supply chain (Presentation PDF)
Vice President Kirsi Sormunen, Nokia, Corporate Responsibility
10.30 Coffee break
10.45 Health: a pillar of sustainable and responsible mining (Presentation PDF)
Head of Public Health Consulting Services and Community Francesca Viliani, International SOS; IAIA health section co-chair
11.15 Can we create responsible mining through regulation
(Presentation PDF)
Professor Kai Kokko, University of Lapland, Environmental law
11.45 Comments on the conference presentations and discussion
Prof., Deputy Director David Brereton, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland
General Manager Antti Pihko, Kemi Mine Outokumpu Chrome Oy
Head of Environmental Policy Unit Jouni Nissinen, The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation FANC (Presentation PDF)
Research Director Pekka Nurmi, GTK - Geological Survey of Finland
Final Discussion
13:00 Closing of the conference
Lunch
Language
The presentations will be in English, except presentation of Director Ibraev in Russian. There will be simultaneous interpretation of all presentations into Russian / from Russian. Conference website in Russian.
Target groups
Mining companies and their staff, administrators, politicians, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), researchers, consultants, etc.
Participation Fee and Registration
The participation fee includes the programme, lunches, coffees and dinner mentioned in the programme. The participation fee is 170 euros. You will receive an invoice of participation fee after the registration. The registration to the conference can be done by 16 November.
Venue
Dipoli Congress Center, Otakaari 24, Espoo. Map and Connections
The conference dinner is in the Restaurant Ranta (Radisson SAS Blu Hotel Espoo; address: Otaranta 2) close to the conference venue.
Accommodation
Information on the hotels in the Helsinki region can be found here.
Organized by:
- University of Eastern Finland (UEF)
- The Institute for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (LYY/UEF)
- Gaia Group
- Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland
- The Academy of Finland
Head of the organising committee: Professor Rauno Sairinen, University of Eastern Finland
Practical information: Saija Miina, saija.miina [at] uef.fi, tel. +358 50 372 9320.
Information on social scientific mining research at the University of Eastern Finland: http://www.uef.fi/kaivostutkimus/1
