MINING POLICY FRAMEWORK

The 2023 Mining Policy Framework (MPF), published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on behalf of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), provides a comprehensive set of good international governance practices for the mining sector. The framework is organized into six pillars—laws and institutions, financial benefits, socio-economic benefits, environmental management, post-mining transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining—designed to help member governments ensure mining contributes to sustainable development throughout the entire mine life cycle.

• The Mining Policy Framework (MPF) is a systemic guidance tool designed to help governments apply sustainable development principles to all mining operations, covering the full life cycle from exploration to post-mining transition. It was originally ratified in 2010 and updated in 2023 to reflect evolving international benchmarks and lessons from 17 MPF assessments conducted by the IGF Secretariat.
• Good governance in laws, policies, and institutions requires clear accountability, the generation of baseline geological data, and transparent permitting. The framework specifically mandates that permits should not be issued for deposits located in areas of active armed conflict and requires the obtaining of free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous peoples when applicable.
• To optimize financial benefits, the framework recommends fiscal regimes based on quantitative and qualitative analysis that adjust government revenue collection according to project profitability. It emphasizes the need for transparent revenue management, the limitation of tax avoidance, and the public disclosure of all fiscal charges paid by mining entities.
• Socio-economic benefits should be maximized by integrating mining into national development plans and ensuring labour rights. This includes prohibiting forced and child labour, increasing the participation of women and Indigenous peoples in the workforce, and establishing grievance mechanisms for affected communities.
• Environmental management must address climate change and ecosystem protection. The framework calls for the adoption of standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet international goals, the application of a mitigation hierarchy to achieve no-net loss of biodiversity, and the use of independent technical reviews for tailings facilities.
• The post-mining transition requires comprehensive closure plans and financial assurance to be submitted at the permit application stage. The framework advocates for progressive rehabilitation to reduce future liabilities and the creation of climate-resilient post-mining land uses.
• For Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM), the framework emphasizes the need for specific legal frameworks to integrate operators into the formal economy. Key priorities include reducing the use of mercury and other toxic substances, providing technical training to improve safety, and strengthening labour laws to prohibit child labour within the ASM sector.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2023). MINING POLICY FRAMEWORK. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-12/igf-mining-policy-framework-en.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. MINING POLICY FRAMEWORK. 2023. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-12/igf-mining-policy-framework-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=MINING POLICY FRAMEWORK |date=2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-12/igf-mining-policy-framework-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2023mining, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{MINING POLICY FRAMEWORK}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-12/igf-mining-policy-framework-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }