IGF Case Study: The Importance of Consultation and Engagement in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments

The document emphasizes that environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs) are critical for determining project conditions and ensuring benefits for affected communities. It argues that project approvals should depend on general community support, or a 'social licence to operate', to prevent conflicts such as protests and roadblocks. Drawing on the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development’s (IGF) 2020 guidance, the report provides case studies of legal frameworks that cover a mine's entire life cycle to help other jurisdictions improve their ESIA processes.

• Environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs) serve as a primary mechanism for communities to influence project plans and for governments to determine if a mine's development will benefit project-affected communities.
• Lack of community support for a project can lead to legal and illegal conflicts, including roadblocks and protests, and can diminish trust in government institutions.
• The report advocates for the 'social licence to operate', suggesting that project approvals should only be granted when there is general community support.

APA

Hill,, J. (2023). IGF Case Study: The Importance of Consultation and Engagement in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/igf-case-study-environmental-social-impact-assessments

Chicago

Hill,, Jenifer. IGF Case Study: The Importance of Consultation and Engagement in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/igf-case-study-environmental-social-impact-assessments.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hill, |first1=Jenifer |title=IGF Case Study: The Importance of Consultation and Engagement in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=10 January 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/igf-case-study-environmental-social-impact-assessments |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hill2023igf, author = {Hill,, Jenifer}, title = {{IGF Case Study: The Importance of Consultation and Engagement in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/igf-case-study-environmental-social-impact-assessments}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }