Contributing to a cleaner future

Open this photo in gallery:

Canada’s exploration and mining sector has a key role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy by providing the metals and minerals that are essential to the development of innovative new technologies that will help wean the world off fossil fuels, says Felix Lee, president of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC).

“Climate change is a dominant topic around the world. One of the most important aspects of this conversation is the role the mineral industry has in supporting the development of low-carbon technologies, because without the necessary raw materials needed to create these products, such a transition cannot happen,” he says.

There are already concerns that the demand for some metals and minerals – such as cobalt and lithium – needed to feed green technology sectors cannot be met, which means current producers will need to ramp up production and new deposits must be discovered.

“Canada is well positioned to play a leading role in the low-carbon shift by providing many of the minerals required for renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicle batteries,” says Mr. Lee. “As a nation blessed with an abundance of mineral wealth and expertise, Canada has a unique opportunity to responsibly capitalize on the global transition to low-carbon technologies.”

He notes that Canada is already a significant producer of critical minerals, including several rare earth elements, cobalt and nickel, graphite, lithium and potash, and an increased focus on domestic critical mineral production has the potential to entice prospectors and exploration companies to underexplored regions, such as northern and remote areas of Canada.

But apart from supplying the raw materials to support a more sustainable global economy, Canada’s mining sector also needs to show the increasingly discerning buyers of those materials that its operating practices themselves are sustainable.

Open this photo in gallery:

In his recent annual address to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Mining Association of Canada (MAC) president Pierre Gratton pointed out that Canada’s mining sector has long been a global leader in responsible mining practices, and that MAC’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) program has emerged as a standard with significant international presence, adopted by mining associations in seven countries on five continents in the past five years.

TSM focuses on enabling mining companies to meet society’s needs for minerals, metals and energy products in the most socially, economically and environmentally responsible way through mandatory commitments to annually report and assure social and environmental performance with strong multi-stakeholder oversight.

Mr. Gratton believes the opportunity for responsible growth is significant and the obligation to grow responsibly has never been clearer.

“Canadian metals come conflict free, mined meeting the highest environmental standards and a commitment to transparency unmatched anywhere. We are confident that with these sustainable standards and new government commitments, Canada’s mining industry has the tools and support to provide the responsibly sourced minerals vital to industries around the world,” he says.

Produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation.