ICMM Sustainability Report Assurance and GHG Emissions Verification
International Mining Company • Multiple International Sites
Solution Overview
Client:
Major international mining company
Business Challenge:
- International mining operations with complex reporting requirements including International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Sustainable Development Framework and the World Gold Council’s (WGC) Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs).
Solution:
- Experienced team of assurance professionals that could provide sustainability assurance and commentary on the client’s alignment with ICMM’s 10 Sustainable Development Principles and eight Position Statements.
Results:
- Assurance report delivered on time and to the standards outlined by our client, resulting in repeat business for five consecutive report cycles.
Challenge
Apex was retained by a major international gold and copper mining company to provide sustainability report assurance as well as third party data verification of various environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. The assurance process included an assessment of performance and progress across a range of sustainability issues to further our understanding of how the client identifies material ESG risks and emerging issues in a changing environment. The sustainability performance required assessment against the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework and progress towards implementation of the WGC RGMPs.
Apex’s role on this project involved performing data reviews and interviews with client personnel and external stakeholders with respect to the client’s sustainability performance at mining sites throughout the world. Additional responsibilities included remote data review and verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the review and assurance of the client’s annual sustainability report against the principles of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework and the assessment of progress towards implementation of the RGMPs.
Among Apex’s challenges on this project were coordinating virtual and in-person meetings and data review with the client’s staff members and stakeholders located around the world.
Solution
Apex provided assurance for the stated content of the sustainability report and commentary on the client’s alignment with ICMM’s 10 Sustainable Development Principles and eight Position Statements. Reasonable assurance was provided for the content of the sustainability report, the client’s Conflict-Free Gold Report, Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and total water withdrawal. Apex also provided limited assurance for the Scope 3 GHG emissions and assessed progress towards implementation of the WGC’s RGMPs and ICMM’s mining principles.
Apex completed all project objectives by the client’s due date of late April 2022. Apex kept in close communication with the client’s primary contact throughout the process to ensure we had the necessary data for review and assurance. Details on the assurance process, mine site visits and recommended opportunities for improvement were provided in a management report.
Results
Each year, Apex has completed the project on time and within budget. Apex has helped the client improve ESG related operations and the assurance process by suggesting opportunities for improvement at both the site level and corporate level.