The opening keynote for the MINEXCHANGE 2023 SME Annual Conference & Expo in Denver, CO on Feb. 27 covered a topic that is top of mind for many practitioners of the mining industry today: that of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Although many in the mining industry have embraced these factors in their mine planning and operations for years, if not for their entire existence, the acronym “ESG” has come into prominence in recent years. This is in part a response to climate change and global warming, the 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction goals and commitments made by many nations as well as companies in the mining industry, social unrest and injustice issues worldwide, and the fact that climate change is disproportionately affecting poorer countries and people.
