ABSTRACT
Mining, refining, and the use and disposal of minerals have in some instances led to significant local environmental and social damage. It is not always clear that mining brings economic and social benefits to the host countries, as the minerals sector sometimes operates where there is poor governance, including corruption, and is thus associated with it. It was clear the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) Project had to be independent and collaborative if the results were to lead to trusted and accepted outcomes. The MMSD Project convened several workshops where valuable exchanges of ideas occurred on such issues. The project design of MMSD recognized that campaigning by environmental and political groups has played an important role in catalysing major changes in the standards pursued by minerals industry in the past, and that these groups would continue to be major drivers of change. MMSD also had to address a clear paradox.
