The government of Canada is lending its support for the international governance of the mining sector.
on Wednesday, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a $5.4 million investment over four years for the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) to support its ongoing role as the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF).
The IGF provides a range of services to its 81 member countries to support the advancement of their sustainable development goals through laws, policy making and regulations within the mining sector.
The IGF’s work encompasses a range of outreach and promotional activities to enhance awareness, engagement and cooperation across the mining industry. These activities include conducting Mining Policy Framework (MPF) assessments with member countries to identify gaps and best practices and implement the MPF, and delivering specialized training sessions and technical assistance focused on critical minerals and responsible mining, with an emphasis of promoting gender diversity and inclusivity.
Canada’s investment will serve as core funding to the operations of the IGF Secretariat, including the governance and technical capacity building delivered to the member countries of the IGF.
“Canada is a mining nation and, as such, is a world leader in the sustainable and responsible management of our mineral resources. As demand for critical minerals and the clean energy and technologies they enable increase, our high ESG standards and the expertise of our workforce will be critical advantages in the low-carbon economy of the future,” Wilkinson said in the statement.
“And by partnering with our international allies to advocate for responsible mining practices around the world, we are ensuring that the materials we need to lower emissions and ensure a prosperous economy are sourced in a manner that protects our planet.”
This funding comes from the $70 million allocated for the Global Partnerships Initiative announced in December 2022 to advance Canada’s global leadership on critical minerals under Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy.
