MMSD – North America followed a simple work plan.

An initial pre-implementation scan was undertaken to develop an inventory of issues and players (Mining Project Team, 2000). Results were fed to two workshops, one of Canadian participants (Winnipeg, December 18-19, 2000) and one of American participants (Golden, January 8-9, 2001). A total of 42 individuals participated (15 in Winnipeg; 27 in Golden) drawn from a wide range of interests including companies (small, intermediate, large, service), government regulators, mining-affected communities, First Nations/Native Americans, non-government organizations government, organized labour and universities (teachers, researchers, students).

With the work plan of MMSD – North America set, fundraising was undertaken to facilitate implementation. Adequate funds to initiate work were in place as of July 31, 2001, and the final report, Towards Change, was released at the Annual General Meeting of the Mines Ministers of Canada which took place in Winnipeg, September 17, 2002.

MMSD – North America work plan tasks and objectives.

Task 1: Story/Profile

Objective 1A: to develop a profile of the North American mining industry (U.S. and Canada) from the perspective of the nature of the companies that comprise the industry.

Objective 1B: to articulate the contribution and implications of mining (to people and their communities, to ecosystems, to economies) through the eyes of various communities of interest and as it has changed over time.

Task 2: Test/Guideline for Sustainability

Objective 2A: to develop a set of practical principles, criteria and/or indicators that could be used to guide or test the exploration for, design, operation and performance monitoring of individual, existing or proposed operations in terms of their compatibility with concepts of sustainability.

Objective 2B: to suggest approaches or strategies for effectively implementing such a test/guideline.

Task 3: Agenda for Change

Objective 3: to collaboratively develop an "Agenda for Change" comprising specific actions and timelines for the North American mining industry and related communities of interest to meet in moving towards sustainable development.

Task 4: Scenarios

Objective 4A: to develop a set of scenarios that bracket the likely futures to be faced by the North American mining and minerals industry and the related communities of interest.

Objective 4B: to use the scenario-building exercise as a means to identify and discuss:

• risks and opportunities;

• issues, challenges and areas of both consensus and disagreement on their resolution; and

• potential prescriptions (aimed potentially at any or all of the communities of interest) for adjusting mining- and minerals-related policy, practices, behaviour and infrastructure.

Task 5: Final Report

Objective 5: to synthesize and communicate the results of MMSD – North America.

The results of the above tasks are summarized in Towards Change, the final report of MMSD – North America.

MMSD – North America was facilitated by Dr. R. Anthony Hodge, Leader of IISD's Mining/Mineral Team. He was assisted in this task by Dr. Dirk J.A. van Zyl, Director, Mining Life-Cycle Center, Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno.

MMSD – North America was implemented through a streamlined structure organized around the above tasks. Based on interest and availability, participants were clustered into Task Work Groups each of which oversaw commissioned research. Work Group reports were developed collaboratively,

Please visit the Publications area for the four MMSD-NA reports reports as well as an archive of meeting notes.