Abstract:
Indicators have risen to the fore in recent years, serving as a tool to inform of progress or performance in a variety of areas. In particular, they are used to assess whether we can sustain our long-term
development. Meanwhile, concern over sustainable development has led us to examine the role that business plays in this debate. Increasingly, large corporations are being expected to align their business activities in a way that promotes sustainable development. The corporate social responsibility debate generally focuses on businesses’ responsibilities for their product, the
environment or employees.
As the social impacts of mining are hugely complex, mining companies are forced to extend their responsibilities to the communities in which they operate. Popular opinion suggests that mining companies often have a very negative effect on the development of local communities. The many
action groups throughout the world who oppose mining continually fan the poor reputation of the industry. This is despite the concerted efforts of the mining companies to improve their social performance and promote a positive image of their impact on local communities. There is therefore considerable uncertainty over the extent to which mining companies are contributing to or diminishing from sustainable development. Could locally developed performance indicators both improve mining companies’ management in this respect and assist in the wider understanding of this
reality?
