On September 3, Zijin, together with CMOC and other leading global companies across the mining value chain, launched the Global Mining Sustainable Development Joint Initiative in Singapore. The Initiative received the endorsement of the UN Global Compact, with senior UN officials delivering addresses at the launch summit.
Guided by the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the initiative calls for action in three areas: green transition, community development, and good governance and compliance. It encourages green mine development and ecological restoration, stronger human rights protection, responsible supply chains, and improved corporate governance and disclosure. These efforts are intended to advance green, inclusive and sustainable development of the mining industry.
The companies behind the initiative operate across the critical minerals value chain, from exploration and development, mining and mineral processing, and smelting to advanced-materials manufacturing, mining services, environmental protection and renewable energy. Their combined participation gives the initiative broad industry representation and influence. Building on this shared commitment, the participants plan to establish a regular cooperation mechanism and work together to turn the initiative’s recommendations into reality.
Xie Xionghui, Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Zijin Mining, launched the initiative on behalf of all initiators. He said its launch marked a new starting point for building consensus across the global mining industry and advancing sustainability through collective action. The participating organizations will leverage the initiative to establish a regular platform for dialogue, share good practices, learn from each other and deepen collaboration across the value chain, contributing to stronger global governance for sustainable mining.
The rapid growth of renewable energy and artificial intelligence, together with stronger global action on climate change, has made green critical minerals increasingly important to technological progress and the low-carbon transition. Meanwhile, the mining industry faces challenges in ecological protection, human rights, supply-chain governance and relations with host communities. As countries and markets differ in their stages of development and approaches to governance, no single organization can address these challenges alone. Greater consensus and collective action are therefore needed to explore pathways towards a more sustainable mining industry.
UN endorsement
The initiative was launched at the Second Global Business Summit on Belt and Road Infrastructure Investment to Accelerate the SDGs. Held under the theme “Connect for a Better World,” the summit brought together senior representatives from governments, businesses and academia to discuss cooperation and sustainable development. Video addresses were delivered by Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, UN Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of UN Global Compact; Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); and Mr. Selwin Hart, UN Secretary-Genera’s Special Adviser on Climate Action and Just Transition. Cao Zhongming, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, also attended the summit and gave a keynote speech.
In her address, Ms. Ojiambo called on businesses worldwide to work together through responsible investment and innovative partnerships to build a more resilient, prosperous and sustainable future for generations to come.
The UN Global Compact welcomed the initiative and encouraged more mining companies, supply-chain partners and relevant organizations worldwide to join. It called for collective efforts for green, inclusive, compliant and sustainable mining, supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and contributing to a community with a shared future for humanity.
About Zijin Mining
Zijin Mining is a leading global metals and mining company and one of the world’s largest producers of gold, copper, and zinc. The company has more than 30 large-scale mining operations and projects across 19 countries on 5 continents. Leveraging strong in-house research, engineering, and development capabilities, Zijin maintains high operational efficiency and low costs in both acquisitions and operations. This enables the company to be an industry leader in value creation, underpinned by its philosophy of pursuing development for all and sustained by superior environmental, social, and governance performance. Zijin’s shares trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX: 2899) and the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE: 601899).