Open Letter to Greenpeace from a Mining Advocate
My name is Alp Bora, founder of an independent think tank with a mission to support the mining industry’s transition to a sustainable future. I’ve worked as a consultant, engineer, and investor in the mining industry for the past fifteen years.
Greenpeace is an international environmental organization. At first glance, it may not seem like we have much in common. What is it that we both want? A planet that continues to support a thriving human society. A sustainable future.
Solar panels, wind turbines, rechargeable car batteries, and many other technologies that are essential to reducing our carbon footprint simply cannot exist without mined minerals. Yet new mines are not the only way to satisfy this growing demand. Recycling may be the most promising area for greater cooperation between the mining industry and environmental organizations. Once the appropriate infrastructure and processes are in place, up to 15-20% of the demand for metals can be met through recycling.
Here’s the problem: most people think that the mining industry is an enemy of the environmental movement when, in fact, it must be an integral partner in our efforts to achieve sustainability.
I would like to propose that we work together to develop a communications strategy to address our shared goals.
I’m the first to admit that the mining industry can and must do better in terms of implementing more sustainable practices. To achieve this, we need to attract workers at every level who understand the importance of sustainability at a gut level—or to put it more bluntly, young people!
As a first step toward creating our shared communications strategy, I’ve outlined three steps to build the foundation for a more sustainable future in the mining industry:
Awareness of the Impact of Mining: We need partners who can help us tell the story of mining—to let the world know its purpose, why it does what it does, and how. We must reach out to children, high school students, and college attendees. Sustainability starts with awareness.
Investment in Innovation, Technology, and the New Generation: If mining is to continue to thrive in the coming decades, it needs to invest in attracting a more diverse workforce. We also need large institutional investors to come together to invest in early-stage mining operations. Without funding, we cannot supply the materials for tomorrow’s green economy.
Mindset Shift Toward Sustainability: Our ultimate goal is to transform mining from a “dirty” industry into a new, green, and sustainable industry. To accomplish this while attracting a vibrant, motivated workforce, the industry must shift its mindset toward sustainability—including everyone from front-line workers to executives. We must balance purpose and profit; one without the other is simply not viable in the long term.
Whether we realize it or not, we are all connected to the mining industry. Just as farmers say “if you eat, you are part of agriculture,” miners say “if it is not grown, it is mined.” As consumers, we are the strongest lever to shift the industry’s weight and nudge it down the road to a greener future.
I look forward to meeting with Greenpeace to craft a message focused on our shared values and goals. Together we can develop a game plan that will help us achieve a truly sustainable future.
In mining, we don’t just dig a hole in the ground. We help build the future of the world. Let’s do it sustainably together.
Alp Bora
Montréal
September 15, 2023