Alberto Fonseca

The state of sustainability reporting at Canadian universities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the state of sustainability reporting in Canadas higher education sector, while understanding who is reporting on sustainability performance, how is information being reported, and what is being reported.Design/methodology/approach – A framework with ten categories and 56 indicators based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines and campus sustainability assessment tools was developed to analyse the contents of a cross‐sectional sample of sustainability reports published by Canadas largest 25 universities (by student enrolment). Each author analysed two to three reports. Evidences were checked for accuracy by a different author and finally discussed in a focus group.Findings – The analysis has shown that sustainability reporting is an uncommon and diverse practice at Canadian universities. Primarily under the coordination of sustainability offices or students, seven universities published sustainability reports in the analyzed period (2006‐20...

Principles for responsible metals supply to electronics

Purpose - This paper seeks to critically analyse the list of principles on the extractive phase of the electronics supply chains, proposed for consumer electronic companies, by the non-governmental campaign MakeITfair. The purpose is to understand whether conformance with these principles could positively influence the socio-environmental conditions at the mining level. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reviews the literature on incorporation of corporate social responsibility in supply chain management. It then examines how metals are mined, traded and used in electronics, as well as how the mining industry has been managing its own socio-environmental problems. This information underpins the qualitative discussion of the principles. Findings - MakeITfairs principles were found to be constructive insofar as they draw the attention of electronic companies to their shared responsibility for the problems of distant-tier suppliers. Nevertheless, some principles may lead to potentially undesired outcomes such as biased prioritization of mining companies or regions, adoption of contentious “standards”, and conflicts concerning the sovereign rights of nations over their natural resources. Overall, the principles stress traceability mechanisms as means of influencing the mining phase of supply chains without considering the costs and benefits of overcoming the complexities involved in the metal trade and other barriers. The paper concludes by highlighting the need to consider additional ways of positively influencing metals supply. Research limitations/implications - The paper points out specific research priorities in the value chains of metals. Originality/value - The paper provides a critical analysis of intricate responsibility issues in the supply chain of the worlds top electronic companies.

Mining Communities from a Resilience Perspective: Managing Disturbance and Vulnerability in Itabira, Brazil

This paper applies the resilience lens to a social–ecological system characterized by the presence of large-scale mineral extraction operations. The system in question is the Brazilian community of Itabira, Minas Gerais, host to an iron ore operation of Vale, the world’s second largest mining corporation. Utilizing a resilience assessment framework, this study describes the various components of the Itabira social–ecological system revealing the challenges brought about by mining’s dominance. Data collection included literature reviews and semi-structured interviews with 29 individuals representing different stakeholder groups. Findings revealed that, despite recent efforts by government to regulate the industry, the mine continues to generate press and pulse disturbances that impact the resilience of the community. Operating from the standpoint that resilience depends largely upon the management capacity of stakeholders, the research identifies three ways to improve mining governance in Itabira. First, there is a need for local government to have more power in dealings with the corporation. Concurrent with this power, however, the municipality must demonstrate ownership over its fate, ideally through the creation of a sustainability plan. Finally, all key parties must demonstrate commitment to cooperating to resolve outstanding disturbances, even when these fall outside the regulatory approval process. While Itabira will remain a mining town for the foreseeable future, actions taken now to address challenges will only strengthen community well-being and sustainability moving forward.

Environmental management in small mining enterprises: comparative analysis of three Brazilian cases through the lenses of ISO 14001

A norma voluntaria de Sistema de Gestao Ambiental ISO 14001:2004 e pouco adotada entre pequenas empresas, apesar dos varios beneficios ambientais e operacionais que a norma pode trazer. Diversos autores tem incentivado pesquisas sobre as particularidades dessas organizacoes, de modo a identificar fatores que possam incentiva-las a aprimorar seus sistemas gerenciais. Esse trabalho contribui para essa demanda, ao analisar os desafios ambientais e os niveis de atendimento a ISO 140001:2004 de tres empresas mineradoras de pequeno porte localizadas em Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os dados para analise foram obtidos a partir da aplicacao de um questionario e de uma lista de verificacao baseada na ISO 14001:2004. A analise dos dados mostrou niveis relativamente baixos de atendimento aos requisitos de sistemas de gestao ambiental proativos. As tres empresas obtiveram, na lista de verificacao, indices de 8%, 46% e 56% de atendimento a norma. Ao analisar a estrategia ambiental das empresas, foi identificado que duas das empresas lidam com desafios ambientais de maneira predominantemente reativa, enquanto a outra apresenta uma abordagem ambiental mais proativa. A partir dos resultados obtidos, e possivel concluir que as empresas estudadas desconhecem a magnitude dos impactos que provocam no meio ambiente e, possivelmente, devido a esse fato, acabam desenvolvendo sistemas ambientais simplistas. O artigo conclui acentuando o valor de se aprimorarem sistemas de gestao ambiental em pequenas mineradoras.

Unstable shafts and shaky pillars: institutional capacity and sustainable mineral policy in Canada

In Canada, and many resource-based economies, governments have been very effective in promoting and exploiting mineral development to accomplish various national objectives. Much less certain, and relatively overlooked by the research community, is whether or not governing institutions have the capacity to create and implement the complex and adaptive strategies identified as crucial for addressing the environmental challenges posed by mining. We explore the institutional capacity to govern for sustainability and offer some possible strategies relevant not only to Canadian policymakers, but to other world-leading mineral-producing countries.

Government and voluntary policymaking for sustainability in mining towns: A longitudinal analysis of Itabira, Brazil

The socio‐economic fabric of single‐company mining towns needs to be carefully considered by both Government and companies in sustainability policymaking. Policy design and effectiveness in such towns are significantly impacted by the citys economic dependence on a single company. This paper explores the perceived effectiveness of government and voluntary private sector mining policies for pursuing sustainability in the historic mining town of Itabira, Brazil over a period of 20 years. Itabira serves as a worthwhile case study because it allows for an in‐depth and longitudinal analysis that can reveal valuable lessons to policymakers of different sectors and jurisdictions located elsewhere. Based on extensive face‐to‐face interviews and literature reviews, study results indicate that changes to the state environmental licensing policies in the 1990s led to significant socio‐environmental improvements in the area. The globalization of the mining company also contributed to an increase in the quantity and quality of voluntary industry policies. Recent technological improvements in the beneficiation processes of the mining company promises to extend the life of the mine to 2050. Although there are significant incremental socio‐environmental policies and programmes, sustainability remains an elusive vision in Itabira, with no clear objectives or monitoring and accountability mechanisms. The paper concludes by recommending a more formal integrated policymaking framework.

Um esquecido marco do saneamento no Brasil: o sistema de águas e esgotos de Ouro Preto (1887-1890)

This article resurrects, contextualizes and characterizes the water and sewage system of Ouro Preto, created at the end of the 1880s in response to sanitary problems and the need to modernize the old capital of the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais. Based on documentary research undertaken in public archives, bibliographical reviews, interviews and field inspections, the text corrects mistakes regarding the authorship and construction date of the system. The need to restore the hundred year old sewage treatment station is emphasized, given its relevance in the history of Brazilian sanitation. Today, in contrast with the past, the city of Ouro Preto discharges its sewage in natura into the streams that gave it gold.