|
(27-02) Application of LCA to Mining, Minerals and Metals: Outcome of the MMSD Multi-stakeholder workshop. Stewart, Mary*,1, Basson, Lauren1, Petrie, Jim1, 1 CRESTA, Chemical Engineering, Sydney, NSW ABSTRACT- This paper will summarise the results of the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development's (MMSD) multi-stakeholder workshop on LCA. The MMSD is an element of the Global Mining Initiative (GMI), the GMI was constituted under the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The aim of the MMSD is to place the mining, minerals and metals industries in the context of sustainable economic, environmental and societal development. The focus of this specific workshop was to investigate the application of LCA to decision making for sustainable development in the mining, minerals and metals industries. To this end the strengths and deficiencies of Life Cycle Thinking as a philosophy to guide development, and LCA as a tool to assess this development, were explored. Workshop attendees represented, among others government, NGOs, industry, industry affiliates and LCA practitioners from consultancies and academia. Specific focus areas of discussion at the workshop included: a) Strengths of LCA; b) Information deficiencies; c)Methodological deficiencies; and d) Specific applications of LCA, for example in policy development, to aid in addressing the "North/South" divide. Outcomes of the workshop highlighted where LCA needs to be developed in order to meet the requirements of a diverse group of stakeholders. This paper will focus on the results that are intended to guide the development of LCA for application in the context of decision making for sustainable development. In the presentation attention will be paid to the potential providers of research into the initiative. Key words: Life Cycle Thinking, Life Cycle Management, Decision Making, Mining, Minerals and Metals |
