Sustainable Mining Takes Lead at APEC Forum

Sustainable mining offers the greatest opportunity to eradicate poverty in the APEC regions, Australian Industry, Tourism and Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said today.

Mr. Macfarlane said demand for minerals and energy not only gave economies the opportunity to develop economic capacity, but also to improve general living standards.

"Greater urbanisation in ecnomies such as China has increased demand for resources and energy worldwide, directly improving living standards," Mr. Macfarlane said.

"It's a very simple equation: without energy, economies cannot improve their citizens' lives. Sustainable mining is all about maximising social benefit and minimising social cost."

Mr. Macfarlane is the first APEC Mining Minister to invite business and industry leaders to the APEC meetings, a practice he hopes will become a feature of APEC mining forums.

"I have worked closely with the mining and resources sector and understand the concerns and needs of industry. Without their direct involvement we can't get a complete picture."

"The diversity of interests represented in the forum today - from Ministers, to companies and NGOs - shows we are interested in more than the fundamentals of mining.

"The presence of industry and civil society leaders sets a precedent. It has enabled Mining Ministers and mining companies to gain a complete picture of how we can maximise the benefits of the resources boom.

"Mining companies are more aware than ever of their social and environmental responsibilities."

"Increasingly, companies and economies are working to improve mining practices, incorporating social and environmental costs into mining projects and creating real value for communities and future generations," Mr Macfarlane said.

News photographs from the Third APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining Meeting are available for download and use by the media.

Further information about MRM3 is available at: www.mrm3.apec.org