This course probes the sustainability challenges of the global mining industry. The primary focus is on metal and minerals mining, with an emphasis on copper. Given the copper intensity of solar and wind energy technologies, global demand for copper is expected to surge in response to climate change risk. Without robust governance, metals mining poses substantial and long-lasting environmental risk, especially to water and the human communities and eco-systems it supports. Throughout the world, large-scale mining projects generate intense conflict with local communities, primarily over water risk and the sharing of economic benefits, which threaten a company’s social license to operate. Based on non-renewable resources, mining is inherently an unsustainable activity. The course 1) explores the definition of sustainability in mining; 2) develops a ‘net benefits’ analytical framework based on minimizing environmental risk and maximizing economic benefits for sustainable development; and 3) considers innovations in governance that promote sustainability. The first part of the course examines financial risks to mining investment stemming from boom-and-bust global commodity cycles and the rising cost of production as higher grade ores are mined out. Part two examines the size, volatility, distribution and use of value streams to host governments and local communities generated by large-scale mining projects. The third part of the course examines water risk in mining at the river basin level from multiple perspectives: the mining company, the local community, competing users, and long term ecosystem function. Students will research and write a case study exploring and evaluating the economic benefits and water risks faced and posed by a large-scale copper mining project.