The Business Case for Gender-Responsive Climate-Smart Mining IFC 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20433 USA ifc.org IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2020, we invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. All rights reserved The findings, interpretations, views, and conclusions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the executive directors of the International Finance Corporation or of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), or of the governments they represent. Rights and Permissions The material in this publication is protected under copyright law. IFC encourages the use and distribution of its publications. Content from this document may be used freely and copied into other formats without prior permission provided that clear attribution is given to the original source and that the content is not used for commercial purposes. Photo credits: Cover and pages iv and 32: Anglo American; Pages 4 and 8: Rio Tinto; Pages 6 and 17: Khasar Sandag / Oyu Tolgoi; Page 11: PNG Business Coalition for Women; Pages 12 and 26: Stephanie Sines / IFC; Page 13, Dominic Chavez/IFC; Page 16: Inka Schomer / IFC; Pages 21 and 22: Adriana Eftimie / IFC Table of Contents Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The climate-smart mining initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The role of gender in climate-smart mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 How to read this report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2. Understanding the Links Between Mining, Climate Change, and Gender Equality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Mining and climate change are linked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Gender-responsive mining is more transformative, and cost-effective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Women are key to effective climate solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 3. Entry Points for Gender in Climate-Smart Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Pillar 1: Climate change mitigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Pillar 2. Climate change adaptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Pillar 3. Reducing material impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Pillar 4. Creating market opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 4. How to Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Abbreviations and Acronyms ASM Artisanal and small-scale mining BMZ German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development CSM Climate-smart mining DRC Democratic Republic of Congo EBIT Earnings before interest and taxes ESG Environmental, Social and Governance EV Electric vehicle GBV Gender-based violence GHG Greenhouse gas GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GSMA Global System for Mobile Communications IFC International Finance Corporation ILO International Labor Organization IRENA International Renewable Energy Agency LSM Large-scale mining MSCI Morgan Stanley Capital International NAP National adaptation plans NDC Nationally determined contributions PWC Pricewaterhouse Coopers REDD+ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation SDG Sustainable Development Goals STEM Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Acknowledgments This report was developed by IFC’s Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory gender team, led by Adriana Eftimie, with Mary Dominic and Sherry Goldberg as the main authors. It was born out of a partnership between the World Bank and IFC on the Climate-Smart Mining Initiative. The team would like to thank the many colleagues and partners who provided invaluable insights during the development of this business case report. Within the World Bank Group, these include Veronica Nyhan Jones, Inka Schomer, and Desiree Zwanck from IFC, and Daniele La Porta, Kirsten Lori Hund, and Aisha Irene Agily from the World Bank. Among external partners, the team thanks Jaime Webb (Canadian International Resource and Development Institute); Johannes Richard Lohmeyer and Lisa Stellner (GIZ); Melissa Camaganacan and Nnedimma Nnebe (Global Affairs Canada); Barbara Dischinger, Esther Harris, and Chilenye Nwapi (International Women in Mining); Marthe van Laarhoven (Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs); and Judy Brown (Rio Tinto). Finally, we would like to extend our thanks to our editor Janet Hulstrand, and to our graphic designer, Rikki Campbell Ogden. Executive Summary Transitioning to a low-carbon economy is critical to the sustainability of the planet. A recent World Bank report found that increasing demand for clean energy technologies could increase demand for minerals such as graphite, lithium, and cobalt by nearly 500 percent by 2050. Even though we expect recycling rates to go up in the future, mining will still be required to supply critical minerals: the shift to a low-carbon future will be mineral-intensive, and mining will remain a critical industry. It is in this context that the World Bank Group established the Climate-Smart Mining Initiative (CSM), which is sustained by a partnership between industry and country governments. The initiative supports the sustainable extraction, processing, and recycling of the minerals and metals that are needed for low-carbon technologies. The concept is built upon four pillars : i) Climate Mitigation ii) Climate Adaptation iii) Reducing Material Impacts and iv) Creating Market Opportunities. This graphic is interactive. You can navigate to various sections of the report by clicking on the appropriate squares. The highlighted boxes indicate topics where gender-responsiveness is further explored. Climate Climate Reducing Creating marketing World Bank, IFC support to decarbonize and reduce material footprint of mining sector mitigation adaptation material impacts opportunities Integration Forest-Smart Adoption of a De-risking of renewable Mining with circular economy investments energy in the landscape for low-carbon for low-carbon mining sector management minerals minerals Resource Reuse/ Innovation Leverage e ciency recycling of in extractive carbon finance in mineral low-carbon practices instruments value chain minerals Energy Low-carbon Innovation Robust e ciency mineral waste geological data in mineral supply chain solutions management value chain management Gender and multi-stakeholder engagement In order for mining to shift toward being climate- The literature shows that female employees smart and equitable, it is important to consider often are more likely to follow safety protocols, gender-responsiveness and to reduce gaps every step treat equipment responsibly, and operate of the way. Gender diversity in the workforce, on boards, safely. As a result, women are increasingly in in supply chains, and in engagement with communities demand in mining operations as truck drivers not only minimizes risk, but also makes companies more and machine operators, because their behavior productive, innovative, and competitive. Furthermore, yields better safety outcomes, reduced equipment since women tend to be disproportionately affected by maintenance and repair, and a more safety- the negative impacts of mining and climate change, their conscious operating environment. needs must be considered. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS | 1 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Women in 2. Climate Adaptation: Forest-Smart Mining found a positive correlation between Mining and Women the number of women on boards in the top 500 Women are typically the main users and household mining companies in the world, and financial providers of nontimber forest products.1 The role performance indicators such as dividend yield and of women in community forest management is earnings per share, as well as increased transparency increasingly recognized, as is the importance of and disclosure of Environmental, Social and including them in strategies for Reducing Emissions Governance (ESG) matters. from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) to Improving women’s participation in the minimize adverse impacts and maximize opportunities community engagement of climate-smart for women. mining projects is critical to their continued success. Gender-responsive community 3. Reducing Material Impacts: The Case assessments, consultations, and benefit sharing can for Gender-Responsiveness in the Circular make the project more efficient, build a stronger Economy and in Recycling social license to operate, prevent delays, and save both time and money. Engaging women in the circular economy and in recycling is critical. Women are the key decision Therefore, the active engagement of women and makers when it comes to 70-80 percent of women’s organizations at the local, national, regional, household purchases; thus, they can become key and global levels is essential in order to achieve a drivers of environmentally sustainable behaviors and gender-equitable transition to clean energy. consumption patterns. In many countries, women do much of the work of 1. Climate Change Mitigation: informal waste handling. However, their presence is Gender-Responsiveness in the Integration sparse in the ownership and senior management roles of Renewables into Mining of recycling companies and landfill operations, where As mining companies shift to more renewable energy profit margins and income-earning capacity are the sources, women can be particularly valuable in highest: this is a situation that begs for intervention. leadership roles; the research shows that they tend to be more receptive to issues related to local and global 4. Creating Market Opportunities: sustainability than men. Gender Considerations in the De-Risking Women currently hold 32 percent of the jobs in the of Investments renewables sector, and as the number of jobs in this More and more, mining companies are being assessed sector is expected to increase from 10.3 million in 2017 for their social and environmental impacts on both to nearly 29 million in 2050, it presents diverse career the local and global levels, by increasingly discerning opportunities that require different skill sets and investors, consumers, governments, and communities. talents along the value chain. As gender inclusivity has been gaining more traction Actively engaging women in the sale, repair and in the mining sector in recent years, companies have maintenance of off-grid renewable energy solutions begun to see gender equality issues as being relevant such as solar lighting, heating can be profitable to to risk mitigation strategies, as well as a business renewable energy companies running these programs opportunity. Not only does proactively hiring, procuring, and to mining companies who wish to support energy and engaging local women ensure that benefits will solutions through community investments. But it will be shared with the community; it also facilitates require a focus on training and skills development for community trust and provides a strong social license to women, awareness raising, helping them gain access operate. Companies realize that a social license without to finance, and tapping into existing social networks women’s approval is not a true social license. such as savings and loans associations. 1 Non-timber forest products include fruits, nuts, game, fish, resins, a range of barks and fibers such as bamboo. 2 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING Recommendations Governments, companies, and civil society organizations should work individually as well as in partnership to ensure that women are part of the equation to design and implement climate- smart mining practices. The “top actions” that stakeholders can take to ensure that climate-smart mining practices are gender-responsive and are designed in partnership with women and women’s organizations are summarized below. These actions often reach across the CSM pillars, and many of them are applicable to multiple actors, as shown below. Government, Companies, Civil Society: Government: 1. Ensure that strategies and plans for climate 7. Include gender-equality measures in line with mitigation and adaptation, climate-smart existing international norms and best practices agriculture, forest governance, and disaster within legislation and regulations for mining, preparedness are designed in consultation labor, climate change, and the environment, and with women’s community organizations, and include them in environmental and social impact that they integrate gender responsiveness and assessment requirements. gender-specific commitments. 8. Include actions and strategies that demonstrate 2. Meaningfully engage women from the a strong commitment to gender responsiveness beginning in participatory planning processes in national climate policies and programs, for and consultations, especially those concerning example, in the nationally determined contributions land-use planning, in order to not perpetuate (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, and REDD+ existing gender inequalities (especially when it activities under the United Nations Framework comes to major changes such as land acquisition, Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). resettlement, and compensation). 3. In climate adaptation and resilience policies Companies: and practices, consider the risks and impacts 9. Consider mechanisms to reduce risks and improve to surrounding communities, ecosystems, and the climate resilience of host communities as supply chains. part of social investment strategies, and facilitate 4. Make gender-equality commitments in forest partnerships between communities, women’s planning and governance, and promote private organizations, and companies around this issue. sector investment in women-owned and 10. Unlock opportunities for women’s continued operated forest-based enterprises. participation in the workforce and in leadership 5. Encourage women’s leadership by supporting roles in the mining and renewables (such as women’s groups and ensuring that women have wind and solar energy) sectors through gender- equal access to leadership training programs. responsive company policies; tailored training skills and development; and providing women with 6. Strengthen family incomes by supporting an access to outside training and university programs, enabling environment for women who are childcare, and flexible work options. interested in entrepreneurship—for example by providing opportunities for training and income 11. Create opportunities to equitably improve family generation, supporting women in developing incomes, train and employ women, and facilitate their skills to access markets for their products, and promote the inclusion of women-owned and and creating community-based banks for the operated businesses within the company supply benefit of women. chain, and in company initiatives on sustainability and the circular economy. The Business Case for Gender-Responsive Climate-Smart Mining seeks to create a more equitable and climate-smart mining sector, through awareness of the business case, collaboration and partnerships. The complete list of detailed actions categorized into pillars and actors can be consulted here. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS | 3 1. Introduction A new era in mining is underway, with a view toward being both gender and climate-smart. As societies recognize the essential role that mining plays in the clean energy revolution, mining companies are not only valued for securing the minerals and metals needed to power clean energy technologies; they are also increasingly expected to lead by example. In this context, it is essential to minimize the negative climate, environmental, and social impacts of mining operations into companies’ risk management strategies. The last several years have seen increased awareness Climate change also creates risks for mining of the essential role of women within both the operations, due to its impacts on the water cycle, mining sector and the discourse on international causing floods and drought, rising temperature levels climate change. Both local and global conversations that affect working conditions, and environmental among policymakers and international institutions changes that threaten community resilience and are considering the importance of women’s roles in increase the competition for natural resources. climate mitigation and adaptation in ensuring that It is in this context that the World Bank Group global targets are both effective and inclusive. Mining established the Climate-Smart Mining (CSM) Initiative, companies are learning that gender responsiveness which aims to provide technical assistance and advisory in the workforce, on boards, in supply chains, and in support to resource-rich client countries for responsibly community engagement not only minimizes risk, but developing their strategic mineral reserves. CSM also makes companies more productive, innovative, and supports the sustainable extraction, processing, and competitive. This document illustrates how gender- recycling of the minerals and metals needed to secure responsive, climate-smart mining strategies are both the supply for low-carbon technologies by minimizing good for business and good for the planet. the climate and environmental footprints of these technologies throughout their value chain. The CSM The climate-smart mining initiative Initiative is a public-private partnership funded with the support of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, A successful transition to clean energy is essential Anglo American PLC, Rio Tinto, and the Deutsche in order to achieve the low-carbon economy the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) planet needs, and it is already underway. The 2020 on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic World Bank report, Minerals for Climate Action: The Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition, found that increasing demand for clean energy technologies The building blocks of climate-smart mining could make the demand for minerals such as graphite, align along four pillars that contribute to the lithium, and cobalt increase almost 500 percent by decarbonization and reduction in the material 2050, and that the renewable energy technology and footprint of minerals that are critical in order to energy storage that will be needed to limit the global achieve a low-carbon future: (i) Climate Mitigation, (ii) temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius will Climate Adaptation, (iii) Reducing Material Impacts, require more than 3 billion tons of minerals and metals. and (iv) Creating Market Opportunities. Climate-smart Demand for base minerals like aluminum and copper mining practices aim to ensure that the operations will also continue to rise. Even with anticipated future that produce the minerals needed for a low-carbon increases in recycling rates, mining will still be needed future are themselves sustainable, carbon-efficient, to supply critical minerals.2 and that they are not contributing to increased risks from climate impacts. 2 Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition. World Bank. 2020. http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/ en/961711588875536384/Minerals-for-Climate-Action-The-Mineral-Intensity-of-the-Clean-Energy-Transition.pdf 1. INTRODUCTION | 5 Why make this investment? • Women are often disproportionately affected by the negative impacts of both mining and climate • Climate models show that the global rise in change. temperature needs to be kept less than 2 degrees Celsius in order to shield the global community from the most catastrophic effects of climate change. The role of gender in climate-smart mining • The clock is ticking: in order to meet this 2-degree For mining to become climate-smart and equitable, it target, pressure is mounting from governments, is important to reduce gender gaps in the workforce, investors, and society overall to reduce emissions, in the leadership and supply chains of mining and quickly. companies, and to increase women’s participation • Critical inputs for mining processes, such as water in community consultations as well as regional and and energy, are likely to face greater constraints in national-level discourse on mining and climate. The the coming years. UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development–with its goal of eradicating extreme poverty and securing • The health and safety of employees is at risk as a sustainable future for the planet–has pledged to communicable diseases, exposure to heat-related leave no one behind, and is urging a greater push for illnesses, and the likelihood of accidents can all gender responsiveness. Gender responsiveness is an increase with rising temperatures. essential component of a sustainable, competitive, • Climate change will increase vulnerabilities climate-smart mining operation that enjoys the and direct competition for limited resources in benefits of diverse human capital and expertise, communities that are near mining operations, strong community relations, and benefit sharing. testing companies’ social license to operate. Gender responsiveness means examining and actively • Climate change may disrupt mining operations as addressing gender norms, roles, and inequalities. It a result of the increased frequency and intensity of goes beyond just being sensitive to gender differences; extreme weather events. it means actively seeking to promote gender equality. 6 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING This usually involves specific actions to empower note that delves into the entry points for gender women in their households and communities as well equality within the CSM blocks and a stakeholder guide. as broader policy and planning processes3 that often begin with gender assessments, in order to establish a A word about artisanal and small-scale mining baseline and to inform actions moving forward. This document will focus on large-scale mining (LSM), since the vast majority of the minerals and metals How to read this report needed for climate-smart mining come through LSM. This document begins with a discussion of the That said, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is relationships between mining, climate change, and also fraught with gender inequalities that warrant women. It follows with a business case outlining further discourse and inspection, and it represents what mining companies can gain by incorporating a vital source of livelihood for more than 40 million strategies that close the gaps between women and people globally, particularly in rural and remote areas men in areas such as jobs, economic opportunities, in developing countries. Women are very active in and agency in climate-smart mining initiatives. It is ASM, on average accounting for 30–50 percent of intended for a varied audience, including private sector the workforce, and in some cases, more than 90 mining companies, governments, and civil society percent.4 However, the ASM sector is very gendered, organizations. It aims to increase understanding of with cultural beliefs and gender differences in access the links between gender equality and climate-smart to and control of resources that leave women often mining, and the need for greater gender responsiveness participating in lower paying jobs, and with limited in this space. It is the first in a series of gender-focused security, in a sector that can be hazardous to the publications from the World Bank-IFC Climate-Smart environment and human health.5 Box A provides Mining Initiative, and will be followed by a guidance additional information about ASM. BOX A Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining ASM is a highly gendered sector and can be associated with sexual violence and conflict, as it has been, for example in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where rape and armed conflict in mining areas has long been commonplace.6 Governments, the private sector, and civil society all have a role to play, individually and in partnership, in order to reduce harm and inequality to women who make their living in ASM, by supporting the development of initiatives that address gender inequality, safety, and community engagement in mineral supply chains. A list of recommended actions can be found in the Women’s Rights and Mining’s “Stakeholder Statement on Implementing Gender-Responsive Due Diligence, and Ensuring the Human Rights of Women in Mineral Supply Chains.”7 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON ASM • A new shine to gold: Reducing health hazards of artisanal and small-scale gold mining • Access to Finance for Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners: Imagining Alternatives and Creating Opportunities • ASM and climate change 3 Toolkit for a Gender-Responsive Process to Formulate and Implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). 2019. UNFCCC. 4 State of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Sector. 2019. PACT and the World Bank. https://www.pactworld.org/state%20of%20asm 5 Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Mining Sector in Africa. Evidence and Reflections from the DRC, South Africa, Tanzania & Uganda. 2020. GIZ GmbH on behalf of BMZ. https://www.kit.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SGBV-in-the-Mining-Sector-in-Africa.pdf 6 Ibid. 7 Stakeholder Statement on Implementing Gender-Responsive Due Diligence and Ensuring the Human Rights of Women in Mineral Supply Chains. 2019. Women’s Rights and Mining. https://womenandmining.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Stakeholder-Statement- Implementing-Gender-Responsive-Due-Diligence-and-ensuring-human-rights-of-women-in-Mineral-Supply-Chains.pdf 1. INTRODUCTION | 7 2. Understanding the Links Between Mining, Climate Change, and Gender Equality Mining and climate change are linked is affecting water cycles globally, resulting in either not enough water (drought and desertification), or The environmental impacts of mining too much (hurricanes, cyclones, and floods). Scarcity Mining touches almost every aspect of modern life: of water can alter the supply of water to mining the buildings we live in, the cars we drive, the clothes sites, affecting operations and potentially increasing we wear, the medical products we use, the technology tensions with local communities. Flooding, cyclones, we rely on. Despite the economic and lifestyle benefits and hurricanes can lead to unsafe water levels in it can yield, mining is an industry that has negative tailing dams, which can collapse, damaging roads environmental impacts, and can often exacerbate and halting operations. Rising temperatures and social and economic inequalities in host communities extreme heat, particularly in already hot places like and countries. Mining generates air and water Australia, China, and northern and western Africa pollutants, and can cause widespread environmental can decrease worker productivity, increase cooling damage to wildlife and biological diversity. It is a costs, and potentially put workers’ lives and health at significant contributor to carbon emissions, and is risk. Increased exposure to pests and disease, which currently responsible for 4 to 7 percent of greenhouse impacts nutrition security and the health of workers gas (GHG) emissions globally. Direct CO2 emissions and their families has also been attributed to climate from owned or controlled sources (known as “Scope change in some parts of the world. Climate change 1” emissions), and indirect CO2 emissions from the can also have indirect socioeconomic consequences generation of purchased energy (known as “Scope 2”) that in turn can raise the political tensions surrounding from the mining sector amount to 1 percent of global a mine. In addition, mining operations are often in emissions.8 Scope 3 emissions, which covers the full socially and politically fragile parts of the world, where range of activities associated with the production and the industry serves as a key driver of economic growth; ultimate consumption of these minerals, such as the negative impacts on mining due to climate change processing of ore, or the combustion of thermal coal could therefore mean dire consequences for economic represent a significantly higher share—in the vicinity of growth and development in host countries. 28 percent of global GHG emissions. Thus mining has both direct and indirect effects on the environment. The sector’s response to climate change needs to The direct impacts, such as the physical footprint of a expand beyond a focus on the supply of critical mine and downstream pollution, are typically dwarfed minerals to include committed efforts to decarbonize by the indirect impacts on landscapes, like large-scale mining operations and reduce emissions through the infrastructure development, and population inflows use of renewable energy to power operations (and due to increased accessibility and potential economic processing), to integrate recycling into the value chain, opportunity.9 The mining sector is thus critical in and to use electric or hydrogen-powered truck fleets, tackling the challenge of climate change. 10 among other things. These “climate-smart” actions can help to contribute to GHG mitigation, climate The effects of climate change on mining adaptation, reduction of material impact, and/or the The mining industry itself is also heavily susceptible creation of market opportunities—which are the to the negative effects of climate change, which can very areas identified earlier as the building blocks of disrupt operations and communities. Climate change climate-smart mining. 8 Climate Risk and Decarbonization: What Every Mining CEO Needs to Know. 2020. McKinsey and Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/~/ media/McKinsey/Business%20Functions/Sustainability/Our%20Insights/Climate%20risk%20and%20decarbonization%20What%20 every%20mining%20CEO%20needs%20to%20know/Climate-risk-and-decarbonization-What-every-mining-CEO-needs-to-know.ashx 9 Making Mining Forest-Smart: Executive Summary Report. 2020. World Bank Group. https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/ documents-reports/documentdetail/369711560319906622/making-mining-forest-smart-executive-summary-report 10 Seven Trends Shaping the Future of Mining and Metals. 2019. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/seven- trends-shaping-the-future-of-the-mining-and-metals-sector/ Accessed October 2019. 2. UNDERSTANDING THE LINKS BETWEEN MINING, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND GENDER EQUALITY | 9 Gender-responsive mining is more awarded to women in 2013, as compared to 6 percent transformative, and cost-effective in 199820–slow change, but progress nonetheless. Meanwhile, traditionally held arguments that excluded A male-dominated sector, despite a growing women from the sector, such as claims that they are pool of qualified women not strong enough to handle heavy manual labor, are less valid today as the mining industry has become The large-scale mining industry has traditionally been increasingly mechanized and less reliant on such labor. male-dominated. Recent studies show that women are underrepresented in the mining and natural resources workforce, making up just 17.9 percent in Barriers to entry and retention Canada in 2018,11 14.3 percent in Australia in 2015,12 Many reasons contribute to low participation of 13.8 percent in the United States in 2018,13 and only 10 women in the workforce and in the leadership of percent of the global mining workforce in 2012.14 When mining companies. Explicit industry-specific barriers considering the gender diversity of boards and senior remain embedded in legal codes concerning mining leadership, mining fares more poorly than most other in 60 countries. And even though more than 80 sectors globally. In 2014, women had 7.9 percent of percent of the world’s countries now prohibit gender board seats in the top 500, and 11.1 percent of the top discrimination in employment, only 46 percent of them 100 mining companies. At the current rate of change, mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value.21 it would take until 2039 for the top 100, and 2045 for The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates the top 500 companies, to reach a critical mass of 30 that globally, women are paid 20 percent less than percent board representation by women.15 men, with large variations across countries.22 Identifying unexplained wage gaps by gender is a complex issue Meanwhile, globally, more women than men are that requires considering various employee attributes enrolled in universities (114 women for every 100 (age, experience, tenure, performance, education, etc.). men). They also have higher graduation rates,16 and A Mercer study of gender pay gaps in 11 countries found the share of women graduates in scientific fields has that even after controlling for such attributes, gender increased markedly since 2001 in all developing regions gaps remained, although to a lesser degree.23 While except Latin America and the Caribbean, where evidence from the infrastructure sectors is scant, a women’s participation in these fields was already global survey of 371 chief human resource officers found high.17 In 2018, in Australia, the percentage of women that respondents in infrastructure-related industries receiving postgraduate degrees in engineering and were some of the most likely to report wage gaps related technologies was 22 percent.18 In India, women between women and men performing the same role.24 earned 31 percent of the engineering and technology undergraduate degrees in 2018.19 Data from the Mining has traditionally been viewed as “men’s work,” Colorado School of Mines in the United States shows and this translates to an unconscious bias at several that 13 percent of mining engineering degrees were levels. Recruitment materials often use only images 11 “Quick Take: Women in Energy: Gas, Mining, and Oil.” 2019. Catalyst. https://www.catalyst.org/research/women-in-energy-gas- mining-oil/ 12 “Promoting Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Oil, Gas and Mining Extractive Industries.” 2019. The Advocates for Human Rights. https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/uploads/promoting_gender_diversity_and_inclusion_in_the_oil_gas_and_mining_ extractive_industries.pdf 13 “Quick Take: Women in Energy: Gas, Mining, and Oil.” 2019. Catalyst . https://www.catalyst.org/research/women-in-energy-gas- mining-oil/ Accessed October 2019. 14 Mining for Talent: A Study of Women on Boards in the Mining Industry. 2013. PricewaterhouseCoopers. 15 Mining for Talent. https://www.pwc.ru/ru/mining-and-metals/publications/assets/women-in-mining-2015.pdf 2015. Women in Mining. 16 The Equality Equation. 2020. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/34317 17 Sopia Huyer. 2015. Is the Gender Gap Narrowing in Science and Engineering? UNESCO. 18 “Quick Take: Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)”. 2020. Catalyst . https://www.catalyst.org/ research/women-in-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem/ 19 Ibid 20 Are Women in the Mining Industries the Most Underdeveloped Resource? https://minesmagazine.com/8749/ 2013: Colorado School of Mines. 21 Women, Business and Law. 2020. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/32639/9781464815324.pdf 22 International Labour Organization (ILO). 2018. Global Wage Report . 23 World Bank. 2020. Stepping up Women’s STEM Careers in Infrastructure. http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/ en/192291594659003586/pdf/An-Overview-of-Promising-Approaches.pdf 24 World Economic Forum. 2016. The Industry Gender Gap. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FOJ_Executive_Summary_GenderGap.pdf 10 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING Business benefits of gender-diversity in the workforce and senior leadership The transition to climate-smart mining should be a gender-diverse one—and there is a business case to support it. The mining sector in many countries is facing a shortage of skilled workers and women represent an untapped talent pool. Hiring more women can help ease labor shortages and enable companies to recruit more employees locally. The literature shows that female employees often are more likely to follow safety protocols, treat equipment responsibly, and operate safely.26 This may be due to socialized differences between men and women, since men may have a greater tendency toward bravado, while women are more likely to be receptive to coaching and to approach potentially dangerous and hazardous situations more cautiously. As a result, in mining operations women are increasingly in demand as truck drivers and machine operators, because their behavior yields better safety outcomes, reduced equipment maintenance and repair, and a safer operating environment.27 of men and male voices, and target sectoral and A 2015 McKinsey report on 366 companies found that social networks that primarily include men, which those in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15 helps to maintain the status quo. Same-sex work percent more likely to have financial returns above the environments can breed a culture of sexism, creating industry mean. While the study is unable to attribute an unsupportive work culture for women. Even as direct causation, the presumed drivers for these the number of women at various levels of mining higher returns in gender-diverse companies come companies increases, many companies lack gender- from attracting the best talent, having a strong responsive policies that promote equality and work- customer orientation, improved decision making, life balance, and that would facilitate the retention and increased employee satisfaction.28 Gender- of female employees. Likewise, as women employees diverse teams also experience more innovation; increase in numbers, companies may lack mentors, a study of 4,277 companies in Spain found that sponsors, female role models, or gender-sensitive companies with more women were more likely to training that could provide women with guidance in introduce radical new innovations over a two-year navigating the gender-specific challenges they often period.29 In general, well-managed, broadly diverse encounter in mining companies. In the United States, teams–not only in terms of gender–have been shown a study using 2003 and 2010 data from the National to outperform homogenous teams on several metrics.30 Survey of College Graduates found higher exit rates PricewaterhouseCoopers and Women in Mining found from engineering jobs of women compared to men a positive correlation between the number of women relative to other fields; this was explained by women’s on boards in the top 500 mining companies in the dissatisfaction with pay and promotion opportunities world and financial performance indicators such as 25 in the workplace. the dividend yield (the ratio of dividends paid out to 25 Jennifer Hunt. 2016. Why Do Women Leave Science and Engineering? 26 Investing in Women’s Employment: Good for Business, Good for Development. 2013. IFC. 27 Welcoming Women: An Action Plan for Canada’s Mining Employers. 2016. Women in Mining Canada. 28 Why Diversity Matters. 2015. McKinsey and Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/why- diversity-matters 29 Christina Garcia et al. 2013. Gender Diversity Within R&D Teams: Its Impact on Radicalness of Innovation. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/ abs/10.5172/impp.2013.15.2.149 30 Putting All Our Minds to Work: An Assessment: Business Survey Results. 2014. Deloitte and BIAC. 2. UNDERSTANDING THE LINKS BETWEEN MINING, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND GENDER EQUALITY | 11 investors to the price per share) and earnings per share that the risks and benefits from these projects are (which indicates profitability), as well as increased often unequally distributed between men and women transparency and disclosure of ESG matters. in affected communities. For instance, women often do not have the same training and the same kinds Women face unique risks and challenges as of opportunities for mining-related jobs, owing to a community stakeholders systemic differences in access to education, as well When it comes to the presence of climate-smart as cultural barriers and expectations. In addition, mining in communities, the key roles women play due to traditional gender norms, and the resulting in their communities cannot be ignored—and it is disproportionate burden of domestic responsibilities important to get their support and buy-in in order to placed on them, women are more vulnerable to ensure companies’ sustained social license to operate, changes in water and land access and quality, whether which is a community’s perception of the acceptability it is caused by mining activities or by climate change. of a company and its operation. When this is lacking, The influx of a predominantly male workforce, often of it can be a significant cause of risk. For the year 2021, EY ranked social license to operate the number-one a temporary nature, also commonly leads to a sudden risk facing mining and metals for the third year in a influx of cash incomes, as well as higher rates of row, with 63 percent of survey respondents listing it in alcohol abuse, gender-based violence, teen pregnancy, the top three.31 In this regard, men and women often school dropout rates, and higher rates of sexually have different experiences of mining operations, given transmitted diseases. 31 Top 10 Business Risks and Opportunities for Mining and Metals in 2021. 2020. EY. https://www.ey.com/en_gl/mining-metals/top-10- business-risks-and-opportunities-for-mining-and-metals-in-2021 12 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING Considering women’s perspectives pays off Improving women’s participation in community engagement of climate-smart mining projects is critical to the continued success of projects. Gender- responsive community assessments, consultations, and benefit sharing can all help to build a stronger social license to operate. Ensuring women’s full participation, and engaging with women’s organizations in the community can also make the consultation process more efficient, as a body of experiences is now demonstrating. One such case was found during a World Bank study on gender-sensitive approaches in Peru’s natural resources industry. Men who participated in initial consultations with a mining company and reached an agreement later took back what they had said after “thinking better of it.” They then explained that “thinking better of it” meant they had spoken with their wives.32 Taking a gender- responsive approach, which means consulting with both women and men from the beginning, can prevent delays and save both time and money. Women are key to effective climate solutions Women are disproportionately affected by climate change Access to sufficient land and water for agriculture Women are statistically the most vulnerable during and subsistence can be a make-it-or-break-it factor conflicts, emergencies, and disasters, in both urban that can lead to other development challenges that and rural contexts in both developing and developed may not at first glance seem to be associated with countries; their lower socioeconomic status on climate change, but that in recent years, experts average leaves them less resilient to environmental have found to be rooted there. Famine, conflict, and economic disturbances and hardships. and migration (both internal displacement and the Furthermore, they are likely to have less access to the migration of refugees across country borders) are relief provided in response to disasters.33 For example, increasing because of climate change’s effects on the it has been well documented around the world that quality and availability of land and water. A case in the COVID-19 pandemic has had greater negative point is the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, often referred to economic and social impacts on women than on as “the world’s first climate-change conflict” because men.34 Climate change is such a massive and pervasive of the rapid climate change-induced desertification threat to global and human development that it and drought that has decreased the availability threatens to set back progress on environmental, of arable land and therefore increased tensions economic, health, and human development gains–on between nomadic, ethno-African agriculturalists and both the individual and global levels. pastoralists of mostly Arab descent.35 32 Bernie Ward and John Strongman. 2011. Gender-Sensitive Approaches for the Extractive Industry in Peru: Improving the Impact on Women in Poverty and Their Families: Guide for Improving Practice. 33 Gender and Health in Disasters. 2002. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/gender/other_health/genderdisasters.pdf 34 Gender and COVID-19: Key Considerations, Resources and Support for Infrastructure and Natural Resource Companies in Emerging Markets. IFC. 2020. https://www.commdev.org/publications/gender-and-covid-19-key-considerations 35 The First Climate Change Conflict. 2017. World Food Program USA. https://www.wfpusa.org/articles/the-first-climate-change-conflict 2. UNDERSTANDING THE LINKS BETWEEN MINING, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND GENDER EQUALITY | 13 Women, as often the most economically vulnerable firewood, forest products, and access to agricultural members of their households and communities, and land, which can also directly increase the distances typically the primary providers of food and nutrition for women have to walk to collect water and resources, their households, are the first to suffer from hardships impacting their time poverty, and increasing the risk related to land and nutrition. Studies have shown that of gender-based violence (GBV). (See Box B for more in situations of nutrition insecurity, women have been on the links between mining and GBV.) Women are known to forgo their own food in order to secure usually the main users of nontimber forest resources, sufficient amounts for their families.36 They are also and are responsible for providing food, material, and more land-insecure than men overall, since in many fodder from forest products. Deforestation from cultural and country contexts they are either not mining has an impact on global carbon emissions, but expected to own land or are legally prevented from also takes away critical resources from communities doing so. Negative impacts from mining and climate at the local level, and can expose communities to change could decrease the availability of clean water, increased risk from floods and soil erosion. BOX B Gender-Based Violence in the Mining Sector in Africa Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a term that encompasses harmful acts perpetrated against a person’s will, based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. Critical to understanding GBV is the concept of gender relations—forms of power relations between women and men in a given society. GBV is a harmful expression of unequal gender relations that is permitted through constraining or discriminatory gender norms. Globally, 35 percent of women and girls have reported experiencing some form of physical and/or sexual violence other than sexual harassment during their lifetime, and GBV is known to be underreported, making understanding the true prevalence of it challenging. In the context of the mining sector, the changes that mining brings to an area–whether through increased cash flow or labor migration–are thought to lead to increased risks of GBV. For women working as large-scale mining (LSM) employees, this review found that sexual harassment is the most commonly evidenced form of violence noted in South Africa and Tanzania, with evidence of women having to provide sexual services to men in return for assistance. There are also noted cases of rape, other forms of sexual violence, and even murder of women working in mines in South Africa. While the masculine nature of the mining sector is offered as an explanation for much of this violence, this can eclipse company responsibility toward their workers’ safety. Excerpt from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Mining Sector in Africa. Evidence and Reflections from the DRC, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda https://www.kit.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SGBV-in-the-Mining-Sector-in-Africa.pdf USEFUL RESOURCES In the context of COVID-19, the mining sector is facing a major economic toll, while workers and community members living near mine sites also face the potential of enhanced risks of GBV. Below are some useful resources to help address these increased risks, including an interesting initiative by De Beers Group to provide support to women’s shelters and support organizations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia, and South Africa. • Gender and COVID-19: Key Considerations, Resources and Support for Infrastructure and Natural Resource Companies in Emerging Markets • Oxfam’s top three recommendations for mining companies during the COVID-19 crisis • De Beers helps fight GBV amid COVID-19 36 The World Bank Group and the Global Food Crisis. 2013. Independent Evaluation Group. https://ieg.worldbankgroup.org/evaluations/ world-bank-group-and-global-food-crisis 14 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING Climate change is increasing the frequency and of off-grid renewable energy solutions such as solar intensity of severe weather events and natural lighting, cookstoves, and heating can be profitable to disasters globally. Women have higher death rates companies; but it will require a focus on training and in natural disasters, due to differences in their access skills development, awareness raising, helping women to early warning information, different daily patterns gain access to finance, and tapping into existing social and responsibilities than men, and the lower likelihood networks such as savings and loans associations (see that they know how to swim.37 Furthermore, following Box C). Women’s voices are also crucial in ensuring disasters, women often have measurably lower that climate adaptation and mitigation strategies are levels of access to adequate relief support, which gender-equitable, and that they consider the needs can increase their recovery time and exacerbate of children and youth. The active engagement of secondary and tertiary impacts.38 One clear example women’s organizations at the local, national, regional, of how involving women in disaster preparedness and global levels is essential if we are to achieve a planning can save lives comes from the experience gender-equitable transition to clean energy. of Bangladesh after the Bhola Cyclone in 1970, in which 300,000 lives were claimed, with a 14:1 ratio of female to male casualties. After this disaster, the government increased women’s involvement in BOX C disaster preparedness efforts, and began designing Women Entrepreneurs as Important shelters in ways that addressed their security and Partners for Community Solutions sanitation needs. When the equally powerful Cyclone Sidr hit in 2007, there were only 3,500 casualties, with PEG, a company that sells solar-powered a 5:1 female to male ratio.39 electricity solutions in remote parts of West Africa, set out with the goal of creating Women are agents of change more employment opportunities for women, reaching more women customers, While women are most vulnerable to the effects of and demonstrating positive business climate change, they are also uniquely positioned to results from these measures. As a result of influence climate solutions. Women and women’s its efforts, including increasing women’s organizations can be powerful agents of change, participation in the last-mile deployment of and can strengthen social license and company- products, PEG achieved a 14 percent increase community relations. At the community level, in female leadership which coincided with a women’s tight-knit social networks and their 60 percent growth in revenue, a 26 percent household roles as the primary users of energy make increase in earnings before interest and them irreplaceable in the design and implementation taxes (EBIT), and improved collaboration and more meaningful engagement in of local climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. meetings–all pointing to the business This includes opportunities for entrepreneurship roles benefits that PEG is reaping as a result of in leading and supporting the delivery of off-grid greater gender balance in its operations.40 energy solutions and recycling programs. Actively engaging women in the sale, repair, and maintenance 37 Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook. 2009. World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6603 38 Gender and Health in Disasters. 2002. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/gender/other_health/genderdisasters.pdf 39 Realizing Gender Equality in Cities: A Guidance Note for Development Practitioners. 2019. Cities Alliance. https://citiesalliance.org/resources/ knowledge/cities-alliance-knowledge/realizing-gender-equality-cities 40 Promoting Gender Equality in the Off-Grid Energy Sector. 2019. PEG Africa. https://pegafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/PEG-case-study- Promoting-Gender-Equality.pdf 2. UNDERSTANDING THE LINKS BETWEEN MINING, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND GENDER EQUALITY | 15 3. Entry Points for Gender in Climate-Smart Mining The Climate-Smart Mining (CSM) Initiative will deepen knowledge, provide analytical tools, and operationalize CSM practices in resource-rich developing countries. The Initiative’s four building blocks are described in further detail below. Integrating a gender-responsive approach into each of these areas will set companies on a path toward receiving the highest return on their investments in climate-smart mining. Pillars of the Climate-Smart Mining Initiative The highlighted boxes indicate topics where gender-responsiveness is further explored. Climate Climate Reducing Creating marketing World Bank, IFC support to decarbonize and reduce material footprint of mining sector mitigation adaptation material impacts opportunities Integration Forest-Smart Adoption of a De-risking of renewable Mining with circular economy investments energy in the landscape for low-carbon for low-carbon mining sector management minerals minerals Resource Reuse/ Innovation Leverage e ciency recycling of in extractive carbon finance in mineral low-carbon practices instruments value chain minerals Energy Low-carbon Innovation Robust e ciency mineral waste geological data in mineral supply chain solutions management value chain management Gender and multi-stakeholder engagement 3. ENTRY POINTS FOR GENDER IN CLIMATE-SMART MINING | 17 PILLAR 1: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION The Paris Agreement, the first-ever universal, legally location in remote areas, mining operations often have binding global climate change agreement, adopted in limited access to the energy grid, and are thus reliant December 2015 by 196 countries at the 21st Conference on diesel generators; however, this is one of the main of the Parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework sources of GHG emissions in the sector.45 Switching to Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aims to renewable sources of energy at mining sites is becoming limit global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above increasingly feasible as the cost of battery packs is preindustrial levels. A significant part of the Paris projected to decline 50 percent from 2017 to 2030.46 Agreement is the commitment by each country to This will present several benefits, such as reduced submit nationally determined contributions (NDCs) operating costs, and hedging against volatile fossil fuel that outline the targets each country will work toward prices and transportation costs, as well as reducing GHG to contribute to the goals of the agreement, with a emissions and mitigating against carbon tax risks. Some primary focus on climate change mitigation. The Paris mining companies are doing this already: Codelco used Agreement calls for parties “when taking action to solar power for one of its copper mines in Chile, and address climate change, respect, promote and consider Fortescue Metals is investing in renewable energy at its their respective obligations on human rights, including iron ore mines in the Pilbara region in Australia and BHP ‘gender equality’ and the ‘empowerment of women,’” recently signed contracts for its Escondida and Spence and specifies that climate adaptation and capacity- copper mines to be powered by renewable energy.47 building actions and activities should be gender- responsive.41 Furthermore, integrating renewable energy Renewable energy projects can help host into mining operations, which is seen as a critical act communities and improve community relations. of mitigation, can be fortified by applying a gender Integrating renewable energy into mining operations lens42 that focuses on relevant gaps between men and can help companies strengthen their social license women, and can deliver additional benefits in electrifying to operate as well as bolster their “shared value” surrounding communities and reducing the negative proposition. Renewable energy production is less health impacts on women from cooking over fires.43 polluting than fossil fuel-based power plants, reducing negative externalities such as air and noise pollution to host communities. The negative impacts from the Integration of renewable energy in the trucking of fuel, such as traffic and road accidents, mining sector can be reduced as well. Furthermore, in remote areas, renewable energy mini-grids on mine sites can provide Renewable energy is a critical tool in electricity to surrounding communities and contribute decarbonizing mining operations. to significant development outcomes well after the lifetime of the mining project, since the lifespan of solar The mining sector is energy-intensive, contributing grids often far exceeds that of mines. Given the low to 11 percent of global energy use.44 Integrating operating costs of renewable energy plants following renewable energy into mining operations is critical the initial capital expenditure, this kind of legacy project to decarbonizing the extraction, processing, and final is affordable for local governments and communities to production of clean energy technologies. Due to their maintain and operate, leaving a long-lasting imprint of 41 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Updated and New Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 2020. Women’s Environment and Development Organization. https://wedo.org/brief-gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment-in-updated-and-new- nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs/ 42 Gender Equality in National Climate Action: Planning for Gender-Responsive Nationally Determined Contributions. 2017. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 43 Ibid. 44 Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition. 2020. World Bank. http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/ en/961711588875536384/Minerals-for-Climate-Action-The-Mineral-Intensity-of-the-Clean-Energy-Transition.pdf 45 J.J.S. Guilbaud. 2016. Hybrid Renewable Power Systems for the Mining Industry: System Costs, Reliability Costs, and Portfolio Cost Risks. https:// discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1528681 46 Climate Risk and Decarbonization: What Every Mining CEO Needs to Know. 2020. McKinsey and Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/~/ media/McKinsey/Business%20Functions/Sustainability/Our%20Insights/Climate%20risk%20and%20decarbonization%20What%20 every%20mining%20CEO%20needs%20to%20know/Climate-risk-and-decarbonization-What-every-mining-CEO-needs-to-know.ashx 47 Ibid. 18 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING RETURN TO SUMMARY positive socioeconomic impact by the mining company.48 ESG risks and opportunities, one study found that IAMGOLD, which operates the Essakane gold mine in increases in gender diversity on boards were correlated Burkina Faso, set up a 15 megawatt solar power project with more investment in renewable energy, greater that will benefit local communities when the mine site attention paid to environmental considerations such as closes. The mine has a lifespan of only 10 years, while measuring and reducing carbon emissions of products the solar plant is expected to work for 20-25 years; and throughout the value chain, the implementation of given the low operating expenditure of running it, the carbon reduction programs with suppliers, and a project will be affordable to sustain locally.49 reduction in the amount of packaging.51 There are also good examples of indigenous community-run Women in the renewable energy sector renewable energy enterprises which, if supported Women can play a significant role in the burgeoning through partnerships with the extractives sector, could renewable energy sector. A new study by IRENA finds benefit indigenous women.52 that globally, women represent 32 percent of workers in renewable energy, compared to 22 percent in traditional Renewable energy can boost women’s industries like oil and gas, and more than 48 percent in employment and education and generate health and other benefits. global labor force participation. But while the average share of jobs in renewables held by women is 32 Access to energy is a critical factor that can elevate percent, there is much variation in the types of jobs they economic opportunities for communities. However, hold—women occupy 45 percent of the administrative men and women benefit from access to energy in jobs, 28 percent of STEM jobs, and 35 percent of non- different ways. For instance, a study in South Africa STEM technical jobs. The same study estimates that the found that rural electrification raised women’s number of jobs in renewables could increase from 10.3 employment in electrified communities by 9.5 percent, million in 2017 to nearly 29 million in 205050—offering while having an indeterminate impact on male labor a variety of career opportunities, requiring different rates in the same population; this is likely due to the skill sets and talents along the value chain. Applying freeing up of women’s time with the introduction of a gender perspective to hiring, recruitment and electric lighting and heating options that ease the encouraging women to pursue education and careers in burden of household chores.53 Women also engage the renewable energy sector would open an untapped in micro-entrepreneurship and income-generating talent pool to this rapidly growing sector, while ensuring activities as a result of increased access to energy.54 more equity in the distribution of socioeconomic There are also links to women’s improved health benefits. Embedding a focus on gender equality by through cleaner cooking technology, better nutrition adopting gender-responsive policies, tailoring training and food safety, and information acquired from better skills and development, offering childcare and flexible access to mass media.55 Efforts to advance the transition work options, and other policies helpful to women can of communities to renewable energy sources such as increase their participation in the workforce and in solar and wind power, as well as clean cooking solutions leadership roles. Women can be particularly valuable help to improve energy access and the quality of life in leadership roles in mining companies as companies in poor households, with direct gender dividends such shift to more renewable energy sources; the research as women’s reduced time poverty, improved health of shows that women tend to be more receptive to women and children from reduced indoor pollutants, issues related to local and global sustainability. Using and women’s economic empowerment through data from MSCI Inc., which evaluates industry-specific enterprise development and employment opportunities. 48 The Renewable Power of the Mine. 2018. Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment. http://ccsi.columbia.edu/files/2018/12/3418-CCSI- RE-and-mining-report-09-lr-reduced-optmized-07-no-links.pdf 49 When a mine closes, legal regulations often require that all infrastructure be removed and cleared. In this regard, the closure and reclamation regulations for dismantling the mine site must be altered so that the physical infrastructure of the renewable energy power plant can remain. Source - Ibid 50 K. McElhaney, et al. Renewable Energy: A Gender Perspective. 2019. IRENA. https://irena.org/publications/2019/Jan/Renewable-Energy-A- Gender-Perspective 51 Women Create a Sustainable Future. 2012. https://www.eticanews.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Report-Women_Create_Sustainable_ Value.pdf 52 For example: https://fnpa.ca 53 Taryn Dinkleman. 2011. The Effects of Rural Electrification on Employment: New Evidence from South Africa. 54 April Allerdice et al. 2000. Renewable Energy for Microenterprise. 55 World Bank. 2011. Energy, Gender, and Development: What Are the Linkages? Where Is the Evidence? RETURN TO SUMMARY 3. ENTRY POINTS FOR GENDER IN CLIMATE-SMART MINING | 19 PILLAR 2: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION While land degradation and deforestation from mining socially, and economically. This vulnerability can operations contribute to climate change, climate lead to unrest, conflict, and loss of social license, change can also affect both mining operations and threatening a mining company’s relationship with its the livelihoods of communities impacted by or close host communities and host government. to mine sites. These changes can increase competition Climate change adaptation, climate-smart agriculture, and exacerbate social tensions between mining forest governance, biodiversity conservation, companies, host governments, and communities over ecosystem restoration, and disaster risk reduction, issues that are already delicate in mining contexts, when carried out in a gender-responsive way, will not like water scarcity. Climate resilience and adaptation only help to promote the environmental, economic, measures therefore need to consider not only the and social resilience of women; it will also ensure risks and impacts to mining operations but also to the higher success rates of programs and stronger links to surrounding communities, ecosystems, and supply local economic activities and supply chains. Creating chains. The same holds true for National Adaptation links with women and their nontimber forest product Plans under the United Nations Framework harvesting, processing, and selling, as well as use of Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and fuel can promote a more landscape-level approach to community adaptation plans should also consider forest governance—that is, an approach that considers both current and planned mining operations. This the various types of interdependent uses of land and can be achieved through a variety of strategies and its effect on local economies. Many countries have nature-based climate solutions including forest-smart made gender commitments in their forest planning– mining, sustainable land management practices, and for example, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic the preservation or restoration of natural capital. Republic of Congo (DRC), and Ghana, under the Mechanisms to improve the climate resilience of host Forest Investment Program of the Climate Investment communities can be considered as part of companies’ Funds, in their investments under the Forest Carbon social investment strategies, which in return can help Partnership Fund, and in the BioCarbon Fund, which to secure trust and establish a strong social license to promotes private sector investment in women-owned operate. These activities, when carried out in a gender- and operated forest-based enterprises.57 responsive way, can also address the disproportionate and unique impacts of environmental changes, natural Gender equality in the Paris Agreement disasters, and climate change on women. Additionally, because of the roles women play in their families and In 2015, countries agreed to submit Intended Nationally communities, involving them in planning processes will Determined Contributions, or “INDCs,” to publicly ensure that these activities have the highest returns declare their intended actions for the twenty-first for local families and communities overall. UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP21) international climate agreement. By May 2016, 161 countries had Climate resilience and adaptation strategies submitted INDCs, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) analyzed them. This analysis Land degradation and deforestation from mining found that while 40 percent of the INDCs submitted have an impact on global carbon emissions, causing to-date made at least one reference to gender equality approximately 7 percent of global forest loss.56 They or women’s empowerment, more than 50 percent can also compromise the availability of critical of the countries surveyed intended to include gender resources and reduce ecosystem services such as equality in their revised plans. Of the countries that flood control, soil protection, and the availability included mentions of gender or gender equality, the of arable land, thereby negatively impacting the highest number (35 countries) referred to the role of resilience of communities at the local level, and women in climate adaptation, indicating that the roles leaving them more vulnerable environmentally, 56 Making Mining Forest-Smart: Executive Summary Report. 2019. World Bank Group. https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/ documents-reports/documentdetail/369711560319906622/making-mining-forest-smart-executive-summary-report 57 Equitable Futures: Gender and Climate at the World Bank Group FY18-23. 2017. World Bank Group. http://documents1.worldbank.org/ curated/en/820851467992505410/pdf/102114-REVISED-PUBLIC-WBG-Gender-Strategy.pdf 20 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING RETURN TO SUMMARY and vulnerabilities of women with regard to climate is “a development approach that recognizes forests’ adaptation are more recognized and well understood significance for sustaining growth across many sectors, than their roles in mitigation activities.58 In a mining including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and water. investment climate that is fraught with uncertainty It is sustainable and inclusive in nature, emphasizing and high perceptions of risk regarding host country that forests are part of a broader landscape and that governance structures and relations, demonstrating a changes in forest cover affect other land uses as well strong commitment to gender equality and women’s as the people living in that landscape. It transforms empowerment in a company’s CSM strategy can how sectors operate by identifying opportunities open doors for increased trust and collaboration– for mutual benefit and creating practical solutions and ultimately, less risky investment opportunities. that can be implemented at scale.” It recognizes that deforestation not only comes from the construction By being gender-responsive in their operations and of a mine operation itself, but also the surrounding community engagement, mining companies can infrastructure (such as roads) and economic activity demonstrate an overarching alignment and cohesion (such as in-migration) that grow to support the mine, with the host country government’s gender and or to capitalize on economic opportunities generated climate priorities indicated in their INDCs. by mining activity.59 In addition to the role forest-smart approaches can play in climate change mitigation due to the value of Forest-smart mining forests as effective carbon sinks, they are also critical to climate change adaptation and community resilience “Forest-smart” and REDD+ strategies near mine operations in forest areas. Mining takes place The relationship between mining and forests is in a variety of landscapes and ecosystems across the increasingly included in discussions on traditional globe, but about 1,500 large-scale mines are currently forest governance mechanisms and dialogues among in tropical forests, and there are another 1,800 that are investors and consumers. Forest-smart, as defined either nonoperational or under development. More by the World Bank Program on Forests (PROFOR), than half of the large-scale mines in forested areas are 58 Gender Equality in National Climate Action: Planning for Gender-Responsive Nationally Determined Contributions. 2017. United Nations Development Programme. https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/womens-empowerment/gender-equality-in- national-climate-action--planning-for-gender-.html 59 Making Mining Forest-Smart: Executive Summary Report. 2019. World Bank Group. https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/ documents-reports/documentdetail/369711560319906622/making-mining-forest-smart-executive-summary-report RETURN TO SUMMARY 3. ENTRY POINTS FOR GENDER IN CLIMATE-SMART MINING | 21 level. Furthermore, beyond REDD+, reforestation and afforestation efforts in and around mine sites can have significant positive impacts as a joint mitigation and adaptation activity. Women and forest management Women are typically the main users and household providers of nontimber forest products. The role of women in community forest management is increasingly recognized, as is the importance of including them in strategies for REDD+, to minimize adverse impacts and maximize opportunities for women. Changes in land use due to mining operations need to be monitored and assessed for gender-specific impacts to ensure that women’s land usage, tenure, and/or livelihoods are not being negatively impacted. Including women in consultations about land-use planning is crucial in order to not perpetuate existing gender inequalities, especially when it comes to major changes such as land acquisition, resettlement, and compensation, which experience has shown in low or lower-middle-income countries, where the can exacerbate the vulnerabilities of women to a surrounding communities may be reliant on forests for much greater extent than men. In conducting such their livelihoods. The highest incidence of mining that consultations, attention should be given to illegal exists in forested areas is for iron ore, copper, and gold, logging activities, which often form an important, while the minerals most reliant on forest mines are but undocumented contribution to local livelihoods. bauxite, nickel, and titanium.60 Attention should also be given whenever possible to the use of wood fuel for cooking, and to possibilities Of the 47 countries61 participating in Reducing for introducing alternative fuel sources and more Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation efficient cooking technologies, to reduce deforestation (REDD+) with the Readiness Fund, 57 percent— as well as indoor air pollution. In many mining and more than 72 percent of African participating communities and countries in which mining operates, countries—view mining as a direct or indirect driver women may not have legal rights to land or hold land of deforestation. As institutional investors, host titles, and they can be left out of consultations and countries, and consumers increasingly prioritize compensation mechanisms by mining companies sustainability in their decision making and risk analysis, that only involve legal land title holders, without mining companies stand to see reputational gains considering all users and beneficiaries of the land and and increased investor confidence by engaging in its resources. Women’s familial and societal roles and integrated and transparent sustainability practices that social networks are often more closely tied to place, include forest-smart mining. while men often work outside the home, receive cash Forest-smart mining also presents an opportunity income, and are more mobile. Thus, women may be for mining operations to engage in public-private less resilient when they are relocated, especially if partnerships beyond the mine site, since REDD+ is they are not involved in decision making about the most effectively implemented on a jurisdictional relocation process.62 60 Forest-Smart Mining: Identifying Factors Associated with the Impacts of Large-Scale Mining on Forests (English). 2019. World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/104271560321150518/Forest-Smart-Mining-Identifying-Factors-Associated-with-the- Impacts-of-Large-Scale-Mining-on-Forests 61 A REDD+ Country Participant is a developing country located in a subtropical or tropical area that has signed a Participation Agreement to participate in the Readiness Fund. Forty-seven developing countries have been selected to join the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF): 18 in Africa, 18 in Latin America, and 11 in the Asia-Pacific region. List: https://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/countries 62 Unlocking Opportunities for Women and Business: A Toolkit of Actions and Strategies for Oil, Gas, and Mining Companies. 2018. IFC. https:// www.commdev.org/publications/unlocking-opportunities-for-women-and-business-a-toolkit-of-actions-and-strategies-for-oil- gas-and-mining-companies 22 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING RETURN TO SUMMARY PILLAR 3. REDUCING MATERIAL IMPACTS Women can be effective allies for a greener future, and jobs: the World Economic Forum and the Ellen because they can play key roles in the circular economy MacArthur Foundation estimate that a shift to a as well as in recycling. Women are more socialized circular economy, with more reusing, remanufacturing, to be oriented toward social responsibility, and they and recycling of products, could create more than half display stronger environmental attitudes and behaviors a million jobs in the recycling industry across Europe.66 than men.63 Recent academic and practitioner attention has shown that waste production and A gender-responsive approach to the management is not gender-neutral, and that current circular economy waste management practices can harden existing The agenda of a circular economy, and related actions inequalities.64 Strengthening women’s participation in such as mineral recycling and reuse will be critical to these areas can bolster reductions in material impacts achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals while also enhancing women’s empowerment. (SDGs) on climate action and sustainable resource management (SDGs 12 and 13). While the existing studies on the environmental and business aspects Adoption of a circular economy of circularity are important, a key aspect that needs further inspection and consideration is its social The value of a circular economy implications–how can the circular economy be One prominent idea for reducing the material inclusive of marginalized and vulnerable groups such impacts of mining and production is the “circular as women, youth, and the rural and urban poor? The economy” –an industrial system that is nonlinear and circular economy relies on technology and digital restorative by intention and design. It replaces the connectedness to increase the effectiveness of material “take-make-dispose” model and its end-of-life concept and energy use, and promotes products-as-a-service, with restoration, shifts toward the use of renewable rather than ownership. This could lead to widening energy, aims for the elimination of waste through gender inequities along a digital divide, since we know the superior design of materials and products, and that women have less access to technology than men. innovative business models. While this isn’t an entirely Globally, 300 million fewer women than men access new concept, since previous generations mended and the internet.67 Adopting a gender-neutral, business-as- repaired things to extend their lifecycle, in recent years usual approach in the expansion of a circular economy the concept has been enriched, and has experienced poses the risk of further exacerbating inequities in a resurgence. In India, a circular economy path could women’s access to goods, services, and employment. bring annual benefits of $624 billion by 2050 compared Targeting women with awareness campaigns about with the current development path, a benefit sustainable consumption, the application of a keen equivalent to 30 percent of the country’s current gender perspective in the development of local and GDP. It also spells significant positive environmental national circular economy strategies, and private- externalities, with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sector sustainability initiatives can help promote gender being 23 percent lower in 2030, and 44 percent lower inclusion in the circular economy. Gender-responsive in 2050 compared with the current development approaches can increase the user base, bringing benefits scenario.65 And it can also boost economic growth to both companies and women.68 63 L. Zelezny, et al. 2000. Elaborating on Gender Differences in Environmentalism. https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/0022- 4537.00177 64 United Nations Environment Programme. 2019. Gender and Waste Nexus, Experiences from Bhutan, Mongolia, and Nepal. https://wedocs. unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/29822/GaWNPB.pdf 65 Circular Economy in India: Rethinking Growth for Long-Term Prosperity. 2016. Ellen Macarthur Foundation. https://www. ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/Circular-economy-in-India_5-Dec_2016.pdf 66 Towards the Circular Economy: Accelerating the Scale-Up Across Global Supply Chains. 2014. Ellen MacArthur Foundation and McKinsey & Company. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_ENV_TowardsCircularEconomy_Report_2014.pdf 67 The Mobile Gender Gap Report. 2020. Global System of Mobile Communications (GSMA). https://www.gsma.com/ mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GSMA-The-Mobile-Gender-Gap-Report-2020.pdf 68 Top 10 Things Everyone Should Know about Women Consumers. 2015. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bridgetbrennan/2015/01/21/ top-10-things-everyone-should-know-about-women-consumers/#1b0112196a8b RETURN TO SUMMARY 3. ENTRY POINTS FOR GENDER IN CLIMATE-SMART MINING | 23 In developing countries such as India, Indonesia, Recycling the Philippines and Vietnam, women form a high percentage of the waste management sector. However, it is highly informal in nature, and The value of the recycling sector presents many health risks and inequalities, such Recycling of metals and minerals can save energy, as women being in low-status jobs and equipment money, and natural resources, and reduce landfill use. being designed for men; this calls for changes in For instance, as the demand for aluminum continues policy and intervention. Women’s presence is sparse to rise, recycling aluminum saves more than 90 in the ownership and senior management roles of percent of the energy required to mine the metal from recycling companies and landfill operators, where virgin ores.69 There are design and technical barriers as profit margins and income earning capacity is the well as cost implications that impede recycling rates, highest.73 Junk shops in these countries tend to be but addressing these challenges and facilitating higher co-owned by spouses, with women performing rates of recycling and reuse is essential in order to administrative tasks such as buying, selling, and enable a transition to a low-carbon economy. Thus, recordkeeping as well as some sorting. “Waste while mining will surely continue for the foreseeable banks,” a concept that is popular in Indonesia and future, recycling and reuse has a significant role to play many other developing countries, buy and sell in meeting future mineral demand. household recyclables—they are often owned and operated by women, partly owing to the clientele Immense opportunities lie with e-waste recycling. It is being housewives and other women.74 However, estimated that in 2014, the world produced 42 million the modernization of waste management is making metric tons of e-waste in the form of discarded it more capital and technology-intensive, thus electrical and electronic equipment and parts, with reducing low-skill job opportunities.75 North America and Europe accounting for 8 and 12 million metric tons respectively. Materials such as Engaging women in the circular economy and in iron, copper, gold, silver, and aluminum can be reused recycling is critical, and could take many forms. and recycled from e-waste, after careful removal For example, women tend to be more likely to sort of toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, recyclables and biowaste as part of their normal and arsenic, which are also found in these products. household waste disposal practices, compared The value of this market is estimated to be about to men.76 They are also the key decision makers $52 billion.70 Similarly, repurposing or reusing electric when it comes to 70-80 percent of household vehicle (EV) batteries is highly valuable–EV batteries purchases; thus, they could become key drivers repurposed to power providers could lower the costs of environmentally sustainable behaviors and consumption patterns. In many countries where of the EV charging infrastructure by 90 percent by waste handling represents a considerable source of 2030.71 It is also argued that repurposed batteries income, concerted efforts are needed to increase could “become the storage hubs for community-scale women’s representation in leadership roles, in grids in the developing world.”72 tackling the risks of waste picking and the manual recycling of products, and in training and skills Women’s roles in recycling and waste development to create mobility from low-security, management low-paying jobs to more high-paying green jobs in Due to social norms in many cultures, women are the circular economy. often in charge of household waste management. 69 The Aluminium Association. 2017. http://www.aluminium.org/industries/production/recycling#sthash.DNCYWb7e.dpuf 70 “Companies Are Working with Consumers to Reduce Waste.” 2016. Harvard Business Review. 71 Reuse and Recycling: Environmental Sustainability of Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems. 2020. World Bank. 72 Hanjiro Ambrose, et al. Driving Rural Energy Access: A Second-Life Application for Electric-Vehicle Batteries. 2014. 73 The Role of Gender in Waste Management: Gender Perspectives on Waste in India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. 2019. Ocean Conservancy. https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/take-deep-dive/role-gender-waste-management 74 Ibid. 75 “Towards Sustainable Waste Management Through Technological Innovations, Effective Policy, Supply Chain Integration and Participation.” 2016. Procedia Environmental Sciences. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878029616301505?via%3Dihub 76 D. Nainggolan, et al. 2019. Consumers in a Circular Economy: Economic Analysis of Household Waste Sorting Behaviour. 24 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING RETURN TO SUMMARY PILLAR 4. CREATING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES Along with the urgency for the minerals that are begun to view a focus on gender equality issues as needed for the clean-energy transition, and to not just a risk mitigation approach but also a business minimize mining’s contributions to climate change, opportunity. Experience has shown the sector the climate-smart mining is also well positioned to value to be gained in integrating a gender lens across a create market opportunities for mining companies company’s operations. Not only does proactively hiring, and investors, especially in mineral-rich developing procuring, and engaging local women ensure that countries. Engaging in CSM practices can help to benefits are shared with the community, but it also de-risk investments in strategic minerals in these helps facilitate community trust and a strong social countries, create greater confidence in institutional license to operate. Companies realize that a social and private investors as well as in host countries, and license without women’s approval is not a true social enable participation in emissions trading schemes. license. Moreover, women are becoming increasingly vocal when they disapprove of a mining project in their communities; they have been known to protest, block De-risking investments in strategic roads, and even organize themselves into international minerals coalitions against mining. Box D offers a case study. Investment in the minerals needed for the clean energy transition comes with some reservations and uncertainties. While some private sector actors BOX D are hesitant to fully invest in niche materials until Women are Key to Social License there is more certainty about their demand, others are concerned about the political risks of investing After several years of voicing their concerns in host countries with weak governance and about environmental contamination from regulatory frameworks. TungKam Limited Corporation’s open- In addition to social license to operate consistently pit gold mine in Thailand’s Loei province, and even publicly protesting to demand being named as one of the top risks to the mining meaningful consultation, in 2016 members and metals sector, EY stated that “the sector is facing of the Khon Rak Ban Kerd Group, a group greater scrutiny from end consumers, demanding of women from six affected villages, a transparent ethical supply chain as well as a marched to the Khoa Lunag Administrative lower carbon footprint. Shareholder activists are Council Office and staged a sit-in in front also driving many miners, particularly those with of the council meeting room to demand coal assets, to reshape their portfolios by either community participation in the decision- reconfiguring existing operations or executing making processes regarding the granting divestments.”77 Reduction of mining companies’ of forest land to the company. The lack of carbon footprint ranked fourth on EY’s 2019 list of clarity and opportunity for participation in top risks to mining and metals—the first time this decision making led the group to ultimately measure has made it onto the list. More and more, oppose the mining project altogether.78 They have been celebrated publicly, and mining companies are being assessed for their social even won the National Human Rights and environmental impacts on both local and global Commission of Thailand’s “Women’s levels, by increasingly discerning investors, consumers, Human Rights Defenders Honorary governments, and communities. Certificate” in 2016 for their work.79 As gender inclusivity has been gaining more traction in the mining sector in recent years, companies have 77 Top 10 Business Risks and Opportunities. 2019. EY. https://www.ey.com/en_gl/mining-metals/10-business-risks-facing-mining-and-metals 78 Thailand: Ongoing Judicial Harassment Against Members of the Khon Rak Ban Kerd Group (KRBKG). 2017. Human Rights in ASEAN. https:// humanrightsinasean.info/news/thailand-ongoing-judicial-harassment-against-members-of-the-khon-rak-ban-kerd-group-krbkg 79 Thailand: Women Rights Defenders Honoured by the National Human Rights Commission. 2016. Protection International. https:// protectionline.org/2016/03/10/thailand-women-rights-defenders-honoured-national-human-rights-commission RETURN TO SUMMARY 3. ENTRY POINTS FOR GENDER IN CLIMATE-SMART MINING | 25 4. How to Begin Women, in all their diversity, are disproportionately and uniquely affected by mining, environmental degradation, and climate change. Governments, companies, and civil society should each work individually–as well as in partnership–to ensure that women are part of the equation to design and implement climate-smart mining practices. Current leadership among stakeholder groups is often male-dominated; thus, men have an important role to play in facilitating gender-responsiveness. The road toward gender equality needs to be paved by men and women working together; it should not be regarded as “women’s work.” The actions and decisions discussed in this section should not be decided for women, but also by women. Ensuring that women are included in decision-making and planning teams will have a ripple effect within institutions, helping to achieve truly gender- responsive climate-smart mining. It is of critical importance to establish systematic methods of monitoring and evaluating progress toward gender goals, including the gathering of gender-disaggregated data and the setting of gender indicators and targets. GOVERNMENT Government policies can integrate gender equality by doing the following: Climate Mitigation understand the scope of the challenges and • Include gender equality measures in line with potential responses. global best practice in legislation for mining, • Unlock opportunities for women’s participation labor, climate change, and environment, and in the workforce and in leadership roles of include them in environmental and social impact the renewable energy sector by incentivizing assessment requirements. renewables companies. This can be done • Facilitate cross-ministerial collaboration through tax incentives, potential subsidies, and/ between departments that are working on or cost sharing to support women and working gender, climate change, and mining, and other parents with child care, for example. Adopt relevant ministries, such as those focusing on gender-responsive policies, tailor training skills and education and social development. development to women, and provide them with access to outside training and university programs, • Ensure that women are meaningfully engaged childcare, and flexible work options. and that they are included in the national and local-level discourse on the role and impact of Climate Adaptation climate-smart mining. • Include actions and strategies that • Include actions and strategies that demonstrate a strong commitment to gender- demonstrate a strong commitment to gender responsive climate adaptation and women’s responsiveness in national climate policies and empowerment in the Nationally Determined programs such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and REDD+ activities under UNFCCC. • Apply a gender-responsive approach to national strategies and policies for climate adaptation, • Host consultative roundtables on climate- climate-smart agriculture, forest governance, and smart mining and gender equality with mining sector stakeholders from the private sector, disaster preparedness. civil society, local women’s organizations and • Create opportunities to equitably improve movements, trade unions, media, government family incomes, train and employ women, and inspectorate officials, and local officials to better facilitate and promote the inclusion of women- 4. HOW TO BEGIN | 27 owned and operated businesses within the Creating Market Opportunities company supply chain. • Establish incentives for companies to address • Consider the risks and impacts to surrounding gender equality, such as tax incentives or communities, ecosystems, and supply chains as subsidies. part of climate adaptation and resilience policies and practices. • Develop and integrate gender-sensitive and gender equality-specific indicators into the • Make gender equality commitments in national government census (for example, keep track of forest planning, and promote private sector the number of households without male heads, investment in women-owned and operated forest-based enterprises. women’s income contribution, women’s access to jobs and assets, etc.) Reducing Material Impacts • Gender-disaggregate the data of procurement • Apply a gender perspective when developing bidders/awardees, and implement mechanisms local and national circular economy strategies to help small local firms and women-owned and private-sector sustainability initiatives. businesses compete. Strategies can include • Promote and facilitate safer and more unbundling contracts to allow smaller firms to equitable participation of women in the waste compete for bids, offering trainings and business management sector, for example by providing development services to build capacity and worker protections, safety measures, and knowledge of local businesses, and revisiting equipment designed for both women and men. whether certain requirements (for example, • Deliberately target women with awareness certifications and financial guarantees) are campaigns on sustainable consumption and the presenting unnecessary barriers for smaller firms. circular economy. • Increase women’s access to information • Work to formalize the waste management regarding the rights and duties of those who sector in ways that are gender-sensitive and that hold legal titles for mining exploitation in an area. don’t disproportionately affect the most vulnerable. • Deliver social and educational programs for men • Work with the private sector and civil society to and women, boys and girls. Focus on improving increase women’s representation in leadership the quality of education and literacy levels for girls, roles; in tackling the risks of waste picking and the not simply on educational infrastructure. manual recycling of products; and in training and skills development to create mobility from low- • Facilitate public and participatory planning security, low-paying jobs to higher-paying “green” processes that meaningfully engage women jobs in the circular economy. from the beginning. COMPANIES Companies can address gender equality issues in the following ways: Climate Mitigation cookstoves, and heating, as part of company • Provide surplus renewable energy solutions to community investment programs. local communities to improve rural electrification • Provide training and engage women in carbon and reduce the negative health impacts from using accounting assessments, and report generation wood fuel for cooking. for mining operations. • Consult with women when planning reforestation and afforestation actions, and Climate Adaptation support women-led enterprises to supply saplings • Consider and minimize the risks to and impacts • Deliberately engage women in the sale, of climate change on surrounding communities, repair, and maintenance of off-grid renewable ecosystems, and supply chains, in addition to energy solutions such as solar lighting, the risks related to mining operations. 28 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING • Consider mechanisms to improve the climate • Work with government and civil society resilience of host communities as part of the to increase women’s representation in company’s social investment strategy, and involve leadership roles; in tackling the risks of waste women and women’s organizations in the process. picking and the manual recycling of products; and in training and skills development to create • Provide employment and technical training mobility for women to move from low-security, opportunities to promote women’s career low-paying jobs to more high-paying “green” development. jobs of the circular economy. • Provide entrepreneurship training, skills development, awareness raising, and access Creating Market Opportunities to finance for current and prospective women • Incorporate gender equity and gender equality entrepreneurs. into company culture and values, from the • Adhere to the transparent publication board, to top leadership, and all the way through of policies (including sexual harassment the workforce; and demonstrate the company’s policies) and plans relating to gender equality, gender-equality commitments and activities including in relevant local languages, to allow for to investors. Create a gender desk, facilitate accountability and oversight. mentorship/sponsorship programs for women, and • Contribute to women’s individual capacity promote gender role models. building, and to the strengthening of women’s • Ensure that corporate policies and codes of organizations. conduct are gender-responsive, that they • Tap into existing social networks, such as are aligned both within the workforce and in savings and loans associations. community relations, and that they apply to all staff as well as contractors. • Create links with women and their nontimber • Reduce social risks and ensure a strong social forest product harvesting, processing, and license to operate by integrating a gender selling, as well as their use of fuel, and supply lens into community consultations, engagement from women-owned and operated forest-based approaches, and social investment strategies. enterprises when possible. • Ensure that women are included in participation • Meaningfully engage women in consultations and consultation, for example by holding gender- (and in monitoring and evaluation) concerning segregated meetings and/or planning meetings land-use and water management planning that take into account women’s logistical needs. in order to not perpetuate existing gender inequalities or negatively impact women, • Partner with communities, including especially when it comes to major changes such as women’s groups and associations, as well as land acquisition, resettlement, and compensation. government, in the closing down of operations, for example when transferring public services and Reducing Material Impacts facilities to the state. • Apply a gender perspective in the development • Focus on helping to develop women’s and men’s abilities and capacities, as opposed to of circular economy strategies and private sector having a “handout” mentality, or an attitude about sustainability initiatives, and deliberately target “relationships of dependency.” women with awareness campaigns on sustainable consumption and the circular economy. • Partner with civil society and government in their development of social programs, and encourage • Recycle metals, minerals, electric vehicle (EV) them to provide equal benefits for women. batteries, and e-waste to the greatest extent possible, to save energy, money, and natural • Initiate respect for culture by respecting local resources, and to reduce landfill use; involve practices and customs and coordinating and community-based organizations, particularly those consulting with local community organizations. led by women and youth. • Intercede on behalf of and in collaboration • Promote opportunities for women’s ownership with local communities to ensure that and senior management roles in recycling government is providing the needed public companies and landfill operators. services to the community. 4. HOW TO BEGIN | 29 CIVIL SOCIETY Community-based and nongovernmental organizations can address gender equality issues in the following ways: Climate Mitigation harvesting, processing, and selling, as well as • Engage with government and companies to the use of wood for fuel, and promote companies’ inclusion of women-owned and operated forest- develop community investment programs—and based enterprises in company supply chains. facilitate women’s access and participation— related to the sale, repair, and maintenance of • Support communities, government, and off-grid renewable energy solutions such as solar mining companies in carrying out initiatives lighting, cookstoves, and heating. that support women by providing training and monitoring of their efforts. • Support education and training on emissions from land use, land use change, and forestry in Reducing Material Impacts order to enable women’s effective participation in national and local planning. • Partner with governments and the private sector to encourage the integration of a gender Climate Adaptation perspective in the development of local and national circular economy strategies and • Promote and enable women’s involvement in private-sector sustainability initiatives. government, or company-facilitated training and skills development, awareness raising, access to • Create education and awareness campaigns finance, and tapping into existing social networks for both women and men about sustainable such as savings and loans associations. consumption, the circular economy, recycling, and safe household waste disposal practices. • Strengthen family incomes by supporting an enabling environment for women who are • Work with government and the private interested in entrepreneurship, for example by sector to increase women’s representation providing opportunities for training and income in leadership roles, in tackling the risks of waste picking and the manual recycling generation, supporting women in developing the of products, and in training and skills skills to access markets for their products, and development to create mobility from low- creating community-based banks for the benefit security, low-paying jobs to higher-paying of women. “green” jobs in the circular economy. • Encourage women’s leadership by supporting • Support teacher training to improve the women’s groups and ensuring that women have quality of education, and encourage the equal access to leadership training programs. provision of bilingual education in communities • Mobilize citizen participation and community where the dominant national language is not the involvement in project design, including the primary language. meaningful engagement and participation of women. Creating Market Opportunities • Share with other sectors any knowledge about • Facilitate channels of communication for best practices for integrating gender equality in addressing women’s issues among community proposal design, implementation, and evaluation. leaders, government, and the private sector. • Facilitate partnerships between community • Encourage the integration of gender equality and women’s organizations and companies to in every project developed by companies, the engage in climate adaptation strategies designed government, or the communities themselves. to minimize risks and impacts to surrounding • Provide support and encouragement to communities, ecosystems, and supply chains. women’s organizations to strengthen their • Facilitate links between companies and women ability to seize opportunities, and/or to suggest who participate in nontimber forest product actions that may resolve their problems. 30 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING • Use oversight to ensure that legal regulations acceptable, but that they also benefit communities concerning the participation of the entire and the surrounding areas, with a particular focus community in consultation processes on the effects on women. are enforced, with an eye toward the most • Disseminate information on the rights and marginalized groups, such as poorer women. duties of the various actors and stakeholders • Promote and oversee company activities so in the sector, and objectively share information that they not only are environmentally and socially about the effects of mining operations. BOX E Actions to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) All institutions need to play a part in preventing—and avoiding the perpetuation of—GBV. Government and that they apply to all staff as well as • Host consultative roundtables on GBV with contractors. sector stakeholders from the private sector, • Accompany corporate policies and codes of civil society, local women’s organizations conduct with mandatory training for staff and movements, trade unions, media, and contractors in line with international government inspectorate officials, and local best practice. officials to better understand the scope of • Decrease negative impacts on workers’ the challenge and potential responses. performance and promote responsible • Provide programs that are intended to behavior by increasing employee access to reduce GBV through awareness raising, and training programs on alcohol abuse, sexual services for survivors. health, family relationships, family violence, • Ensure that all law enforcement and the role of women, and so on. regional, municipal, and local government • Trainings should be repeated and should be officials go through comprehensive gender professionally designed and facilitated in line training, and that completion and passing with best practice. of such training is tied to recruitment and • For trainings that are not mandatory, promotion practices. Training should be consider offering incentives such as credits repeated and professionally designed and for continuing education and professional facilitated, in line with best practices. development. • Promote legislation and institutional • Set up a gender complaints desk and ensure mechanisms for encouraging the promotion that there is an operational grievance and protection of women within a context mechanism in line with the UN Guiding of development dominated by mining, Principles on Business and Human Rights, such as policies and procedures governing and that it is designed to be accessible to all the relationships of workers and mining segments of the community. companies with communities. Civil Society and Donor Agencies Companies • Report any type of abuse, and support and • Ensure policy alignment with international counsel victims of abuse with respect to best practice on gender equality, sexual how they can defend themselves and file harassment, parental leave, and any other complaints with the relevant authorities. factors revealed through a gender impact assessment. • Provide support to legal empowerment initiatives that back legal literacy as well as • Ensure that corporate policies and codes legal aid, to mining communities, women’s of conduct are aligned with and promote rights organizations, and women and men in respectful gender relations both within the mining sector. the workforce and in community relations, 4. HOW TO BEGIN | 31 Conclusion As large-scale mining faces growing pressure from governments, investors, and civil society to address the high level of carbon emissions and environmental degradation associated with its operations, climate-smart mining offers a valuable array of solutions. The CSM approach supports the sustainable extraction and processing of minerals and metals to secure supplies for clean energy technologies while minimizing the climate and material footprint throughout the value chain. Women are still under-represented in mining operations, community relations, and climate change action, despite being critical to the success of climate solutions as well as to the functioning of households, societies, and economies. Ensuring that climate-smart mining is gender-responsive offers companies an opportunity to benefit from the perspectives, skills, and assets of diverse members of society to strengthen the mining sector, while also pursuing a cleaner, more sustainable future. 32 | THE BUSINESS CASE FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE-SMART MINING For more information, please contact: Mary Dominic | mdominic@ifc.org Sherry Goldberg | sgoldberg@ifc.org https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/extractiveindustries/brief/ climate-smart-mining-minerals-for-climate-action