Newsletter: November 2025
Folks,
I was reminded this month that patience is not always a virtue. Waiting for the final text from COP30 or for the Chancellor’s budget here in the UK, there was an unmistakable sense that we’re meant to sit tight and let someone else set the direction.
Don’t get me wrong, treaties and top-down decisions matter. But they don’t replace the responsibility we all carry to make decisions every day. Nobody has to give us permission to do the right thing.
And in a decision-heavy industry like mining, most of the real action happens far away from negotiating rooms. That point hit home on a visit to the QB2 project in northern Chile a few weeks ago. It’s easy to talk about what responsible mining should look like; it’s something else to stand on a site powered entirely by renewable energy and using only desalinated water in the Atacama. None of that came from waiting for negotiations to wrap up. It happened because a team at Teck Resources chose to build and operate differently – and because the business case supported that choice.
When decisions lean towards responsibility, the effect is real. And for ICMM members, adhering to our standards for responsible mining is one of the ways those choices become tangible every day. We just need to press ahead, in the knowledge that the path we forge makes the journey towards responsibility easier for those who follow.
That is really the essence of what we’re trying to achieve with the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative: a common global standard that reduces complexity and clarifies responsible practices for mining companies of all sizes, across all locations and commodities, with an on-ramp that enables impact at scale. I’m pleased to say the final public consultation wrapped up recently and we’re combing through every comment submitted and giving it due respect and consideration. Each step takes us closer to our goal – a voluntary initiative taken on by the industry, without the need for top-down mandate.
I’m reassured by the knowledge that all of us are making similar decisions every day, on every content, to make this industry better.
Keep an eye on our digital channels for more updates from our recent engagements at COP30 and the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, and our upcoming presence at the UN Environment Assembly – busy times!
Warmly,
Ro
Features
ICMM publishes members’ collective progress towards full GISTM conformance
Earlier this month, ICMM published a Tailings Progress Report setting out the progress ICMM members have made in implementing the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), developed to prevent catastrophic failures and enhance the safety of mine tailings facilities worldwide. The report aggregates data from members’ individual disclosures made in 2025, offering a transparent snapshot of collective progress towards full conformance. It also includes case studies of members’ implementation efforts and their wider work to reduce or eliminate tailings.
Analysis of ICMM members’ 2025 disclosures shows that while significant progress has been made, achieving full alignment with the GISTM is taking more time than initially anticipated, and remains a work in progress. Out of the total of 836 ICMM member facilities, 67 per cent are in full conformance with the GISTM, while 33 per cent remain in partial conformance.
Exploring the youth talent gap in mining: Personal reflections on a global challenge
Will Wardle, Senior Programme Officer at ICMM, recently published a blog highlighting that youth engagement with mining appears to be at an all-time low – raising concerns about the sector’s ability to attract the talent it needs. Drawing on his own journey into mining, discussions from ICMM’s recent Responsible Mining Leadership Forum and broader industry themes, he reflects on this potential talent gap.
Will emphasises that the mining industry can either contribute to the talent gap problem or be part of the solution. To move forward, the sector must evolve, clearly communicate its purpose, actively listen to young voices, and invest in the next generation.
New Good Practice Guide on Contract Disclosure
The energy transition is driving heightened demand for the critical minerals needed in clean energy technologies. To meet this demand, we will need accelerated mine development and increased production – elevating the importance of transparent disclosure of mineral contracts. Rapid development can heighten the risk of contracts being concluded hastily, with terms that do not balance risks and rewards fairly or create opportunities for corruption and weaken public trust in mining.
Our new Good Practice Guide for Contract Disclosure is designed to:
- Build a shared understanding of ICMM’s commitments on contract transparency.
- Clarify aspects of ICMM’s commitments that may be ambiguous or interpreted differently.
- Highlight disclosure practices that strengthen mineral resource governance and outcomes, including options for companies to go beyond the minimum expectations.
Connect With Us
Resourcing Tomorrow
London, UK • 2-4 December 2025
On 2 December, ICMM’s President and CEO, Rohitesh Dhawan, will deliver a keynote address examining how responsible mining can enable a just energy transition and meet the growing global demand for clean energy technologies.
More information can be found here.
Future Minerals Forum 2026
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia • 13–15 January 2026
ICMM will attend the 2026 Future Minerals Forum, where discussions are expected to explore how mining can contribute to economic resilience, technological progress, and the global energy transition, while navigating complex geopolitical challenges.
Details will be confirmed closer to the event. Please refer to our events webpage for the most up-to-date information.
Investing in African Mining Indaba
Cape Town, South Africa • 8-12 Feb 2025
ICMM will attend the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba, where discussions will spotlight how governments, businesses, and communities can work together to unlock transformative solutions, foster inclusive growth, and build a resilient mining future.
On 10 February, ICMM’s Rohitesh Dhawan will moderate a debate on Africa’s position within the current geopolitical landscape, exploring whether shifting global dynamics present risks, opportunities, or a combination of both for the region’s mineral future.
Other details will be confirmed closer to the event. Please refer to our events webpage for the most up-to-date information.
