Global demand for resources and booming commodity prices are driving increased mining activity globally. Increasingly resource companies are working in developing countries that are rich in natural resources (such as Mongolia, Indonesia and PNG). So how do we ensure that these activities create opportunities and positive outcomes for the communities most affected by the mining of their natural resources? How do we ensure that they don't fall victim to the ‘resource curse’, where communities see little of the wealth from mining translate to their own development outcomes?
For the people of these countries -- many of whom are reliant on natural resources and healthy ecosystems to feed their families and generate income -- the mining of resources has the potential to create positive social and economic impacts. It also has the potential to have a very negative impact. How do we make sure that the potentials become a reality? How can we ensure that women, men and children benefit from the natural resource wealth of their own countries?
And where does the responsibility lie in making sure that communities aren't left worse off than when they started? How can we ensure these corporations are held accountable for the impacts of their actions? After all, who really is responsible for continued development once the mines are closed, the trucks pull out and the processing plants are silent?
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