Guide IGF à l’intention des gouvernements : Gestion environnementale et gouvernance minière

The document serves as a comprehensive resource for governments to balance resource extraction with environmental protection. It focuses on four critical areas: water management, biodiversity conservation, mining waste stability, and emergency preparedness. For each area, the guide outlines major challenges, international standards (such as IFC Performance Standards and the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management), and specific governmental roles. It emphasizes a risk-based approach, the use of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), and the importance of inclusive consultation, particularly with women and indigenous groups. The guide concludes with a five-step gap analysis process—examine, assess, prioritize, implement, and monitor—to help states align their national legal frameworks with international best practices.

• Governments should manage water at the watershed and regional levels to balance competing demands and protect water quality and availability for populations and ecosystems.
• The mitigation hierarchy—consisting of avoidance, minimization, rehabilitation/restoration, and compensation—is the primary framework for achieving 'no net loss' or a 'net positive impact' on biodiversity.
• Mining waste management must prioritize long-term physical and chemical stability to protect communities and ecosystems, requiring site-specific risk-based standards.
• High-risk tailings facilities should be subject to periodic reviews by independent expert committees to ensure safety and transparency.
• Emergency preparedness must be integrated into the mine's life cycle and coordinated between the company, local communities, and government agencies through inclusive planning.
• Gender-specific impacts are critical in environmental management, as women often have different physiological sensitivities to pollutants and different roles in resource collection.
• Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) are essential tools for identifying risks and implementing mitigation measures before a mining license is granted.
• Climate change increases the risk to mining infrastructure, particularly affecting water management efficiency and the stability of waste storage facilities.
• Governments can implement a five-step gap analysis—examine, assess, prioritize, implement, and monitor—to align national legislation with international environmental best practices.
• Financial guarantees should be required to manage long-term risks and ensure the funding of mine closure and ecosystem restoration, even if the operator becomes insolvent.

APA

Crawford, A., Hill, J., & Bliss, M. (2021). Guide IGF à l’intention des gouvernements : Gestion environnementale et gouvernance minière. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-10/igf-guidance-governments-environmental-management-mining-fr.pdf

Chicago

Crawford, Alec, Jenifer Hill, and Matthew Bliss. Guide IGF à l’intention des gouvernements : Gestion environnementale et gouvernance minière. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-10/igf-guidance-governments-environmental-management-mining-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crawford |first1=Alec |last2=Hill |first2=Jenifer |last3=Bliss |first3=Matthew |title=Guide IGF à l’intention des gouvernements : Gestion environnementale et gouvernance minière |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-10/igf-guidance-governments-environmental-management-mining-fr.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crawford2021guide, author = {Crawford, Alec and Hill, Jenifer and Bliss, Matthew}, title = {{Guide IGF à l’intention des gouvernements : Gestion environnementale et gouvernance minière}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-10/igf-guidance-governments-environmental-management-mining-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }