PrintLesson 9.1 A Framework for Sustainability
Sustainability is one of the words that many people use, but few agree on exactly what it means! The origin of its current use is rooted in a basic reality: the resources of planet are limited, and human activities today should be undertaken in a way that will not disadvantage or otherwise limit the opportunities of future generations.
Many years ago, I was a “guest” at a mining camp in a very rural part of a developing country. Our day started with a hearty breakfast including eggs. The evening meal was varied initially, but the senior member of our group favored chicken and requested that it be served, and each night for the remainder of our stay we had a chicken dish. Our original four-day stay was extended by another three days due to some problems with the project. On our last day, our breakfast did not include any eggs, much to our dismay. At the risk of offending our hosts we politely inquired and learned that there were no eggs because there were no chickens. They had killed off the chickens to prepare the chicken dishes. This is a true story and a good example of a practice that was not sustainable!
When it comes to using resources, many think of sustainable practices as those that consume resources needed by society, but at a rate no greater than that which will ensure the availability of those resources to futures generations so that they may meet their needs. Usually, it is assumed, if not stated explicitly, that the production of these resources is done without harm to the environment. When I think about mining’s need to be sustainable, I think about an industry whose practices are congruent with society’s values. Let’s try to better understand just what that means to the practicing mining professional.
The three dimensions of sustainability are economy, society, and environment; and are represented in Figure 9.1.1, which illustrates that economy and society are constrained by the environment (planet Earth).
A representation that I like even better is shown in Figure 9.1.2. My preference for this representation lies with the two-way intersections that create the bearable, equitable, and viable regions of the diagram; and then of course, the three-way intersection of these to define the sustainable region of the diagram. The bearable, equitable, and viable regions align well with the sustainability challenges associated with mining and minerals recovery, and we will use this model in our discussion.
For the purposes of this discussion, I’ll use the word project to represent the mining operation. I will generally use both the future and present tenses in this discussion of the regions in the Venn Diagram. IF we are considering a new project, we will most likely be considering future actions, and the future tense is appropriate in such a discussion. Once the project is underway, our actions are occurring in the present, and consequently the present tense is required. Sustainability considerations must guide our present actions on existing projects as well as how we move forward with proposed projects.
I’ll illuminate through examples what we mean by the terms used in the Venn diagram (Figure 9.1.2). Please note that my examples are not exhaustive, but rather are intended to give you a deeper understanding of each term.