International Mother Earth Day:
Global Citizens Look Ahead to Sustainable Mining
International Mother Earth Day was not originally celebrated to recognize a long-running cause or an important achievement. It was instead a call to action, and that same activist spirit has marked every April 22nd since the first observance in 1970. Over the last forty-five years, the expansion of what was once simply Earth Day into a day of worldwide celebration has symbolized growing public awareness of environmental issues and a social demand for development with an environmental conscience.
Many companies have also taken on this positivity toward the environment and signed on to various short and long-term efforts to reduce their ecological footprints. Mining companies around the world have invested in meeting new environmental standards and promoting what the industry calls “green” or “sustainable” mining. Sustainable mining practices are meant to function on a continuum showing improvement from year to year, and governments worldwide have likewise embraced sustainability goals for their valuable mining sectors. China, as a global mining leader, has embarked on an ambitious program of progressive regulations for their mining industry expected to take full effect by 2020. Meanwhile, the United Nations, in its International Mother Earth Day celebrations, has taken special note of the economic and environmental needs of developing countries and renews its promise to work for sustainable development. Now more than ever, economic and sustainable mining is an ideal of the global citizenry.
This Earth Day, more mining companies around the world can point to improvements in their environmental practices as a reason to celebrate. Sustainable mining methods already put into practice can reduce fresh water consumption by 90%, increase metal recovery from refractory processing and emulsion technology, and improve mining area clean up. Asia-Pacific Mining Finance, as a proponent of eco-friendly mining, offers advanced green mining technology and environmental consulting. We are proud to join the United Nations and leading mining figures in observing Earth Day and look forward to a future of more sustainable mining.