Capacity Building by the three International Metal Study Groups

UNCTAD Workshop, Bangkok, September 2001by: Ian Burrell

ILZSG

NON-FERROUS METALS CONSULTATIVE

FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

What are the Study Groups ?

• Three Intergovernmental Groups related to Metals:– International Copper Study

Group– International Lead and Zinc

Study Group– International Nickel Study Group

Who are the Members ?

Who are the Permanent Observers?

World Bank

Who Else Participates ?

Consultative Forum on SD

• Joint project by all 3 groups;• 1st Meeting in Brussels, 2000• Forum for discussion for all

stakeholders;• Actions to address concerns

relating to the production and use of non-ferrous metals

• 3 ad-hoc Working Groups:– production;– product stewardship;– science.

• Initiate activities related to the recommendations identified by the Forum.

Working Groups

Product Stewardship

• An emerging principle for a new

generation of pollution prevention• Focus is on product systems instead

of production facilities• Can be voluntary, economic or

regulatory• New management tools developing

– risk assessment, risk management etc.

Product Stewardship Schemes

• Vision statement on objectives;• Set of principles and criteria;• Institutional capacity;• Management systems;• Communication systems.

• Governance;• Communication;• Recycling;• Research and Knowledge base.

Product Stewardship Working Group

Governance

• Internal and external auditing;• Include environmental and social

as well as financial performance;• Adopt corporate codes of conduct

that define ethical behaviour. – With governments– local communities– other partners

Communication

• Stakeholder dialogue about products;• Clarify extent of responsibility;• Ensure products’ risk assessment;• Improve risk management measures

and inform all relevant parties;• Report promptly on H & E hazards

– to officials, employees, customers & public.

Recycling

• Design for the environment– ease of dismantling

• Collection– enhance volume collected– work with users, distributors, manufacturers– link local and national governments

• Innovation– promote clean technology– consider tax incentives

Research and Knowledge Base

• Disclose data on products’ SD impact– involve whole product chain

• Assessment of impact– safe uses, benefits– risks, challenges

• Manage impact– develop solutions for priority SD problems– introduce a credible auditing process

ILZSG Work with the Common Fund

• Four projects (3 zinc, 1 lead)• Aims of projects

– promote metal usage– promote transfer of technology– develop new beneficial uses

• Future - include aspects of

product stewardship?

The NFMSD Forum’s Web Site

For more details please contact

the NFMSD Forum’s web site

www.nfmsd.org