IGF Guidance for Governments: Improving legal frameworks for environmental and social impact assessment and management | Résumé exécutif

This executive summary describes a guidance document developed by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) to help governments improve legal frameworks for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and associated management plans in the large-scale mining sector.

• The IGF identifies 20 essential components for a comprehensive legal framework for ESIA and management plans. These include a stated commitment to sustainable development, consistency across legal instruments, clear identification of responsible authorities, and the definition of social and environmental requirements for all phases of a mine's life cycle.
• Effective ESIA frameworks must include specific requirements for public engagement, transparency, and grievance mechanisms. This includes guidelines for continuous public engagement throughout the mine's life and ensuring access to environmental and social information.
• The guidance emphasizes the necessity of financial guarantees and closure planning. Preliminary mine closure and post-mining transition plans are required during the review process, and the permit holder must maintain an adequate financial guarantee for rehabilitation and closure.
• Government action is required across four distinct phases of the mine life cycle: exploration (including a preliminary screening process to determine if a full ESIA is needed), planning (reviewing the ESIA and deciding on environmental authorization), construction and operation (monitoring, inspection, and enforcement), and closure/post-mining transition (managing residual risks and final inspections).
• To implement these frameworks, governments are advised to avoid 'legal stabilization' of environmental and social provisions in laws and contracts, as this allows for continuous updates and improvements to the legal framework.
• The document provides a practical methodology for governments to improve their legal frameworks, starting with a 'gap analysis' comparing current laws to international best practices, followed by a structured revision process involving inter-agency collaboration, planning, review, and implementation.
• The guidance specifically excludes artisanal mining and the unique challenges of small and medium-scale mining operations, focusing instead on large-scale mining.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). IGF Guidance for Governments: Improving legal frameworks for environmental and social impact assessment and management | Résumé exécutif. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-07/igf-esia-summary-fr.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. IGF Guidance for Governments: Improving legal frameworks for environmental and social impact assessment and management | Résumé exécutif. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-07/igf-esia-summary-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=IGF Guidance for Governments: Improving legal frameworks for environmental and social impact assessment and management | Résumé exécutif |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-07/igf-esia-summary-fr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndigf, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{IGF Guidance for Governments: Improving legal frameworks for environmental and social impact assessment and management | Résumé exécutif}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-07/igf-esia-summary-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }