This course probes the sustainability risks and challenges of the global metals mining industry, with a primary focus on copper mining and processing.

Copper is a key industrial input, used not only in building construction and ITC industries but in renewable energy and transport technologies vital to a global transition out of carbon-intensive fossil fuels. A reliable and relatively cheap supply of copper is thus part of the climate change mitigation agenda. But without proper governance, mining projects can—and often do--create intractable, long-term social and environmental risks to communities and eco-systems. Mining companies themselves face sustainability risks stemming from water scarcity and conflicts with local communities that threaten their social license to operate.

Is sustainable mining possible? Based on non-renewable resources, mining is an inherently unsustainable activity. Using the lens of the “soft sustainability principle,” the course develops a ‘net benefits’ evaluative framework based on minimizing environmental risk and maximizing sustainable economic benefits. It also considers innovations in technology, supply chain management and governance—including mining bans--that reduce sustainability risks for companies and/or communities.

The course first introduces the global copper supply chain and examines challenges to value creation in mining. Part two examines economic benefits and costs of large-scale mining projects to host governments and local communities, including indigenous people. Part three explores environmental risk over the full mine life cycle, including short and long term risks to water. Part four examines global standards to reduce sustainability risk in mining, including SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) and the ICMM (International Council for Minerals and Mining) Sustainable Development framework. The final part of the course considers alternatives to mining of raw copper ore, including recycling, circular economy, copper-efficiency, and alternative materials.

Students will research and write a case study exploring and evaluating the economic benefits, environmental risks and sustainability management practices of a large-scale copper mining project of their choice. The aim of the case study is to generate policy, management and/or advocacy advice to regulators, the mining company, or local stakeholders.