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W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
C
ollecting and analyzing environmental baseline
data takes a significant investment of time and
resources – especially in the early stages of an
exploration project – but the value of this informa-
tion goes beyond its use in the permitting process.
Repackaging this data specifically for company decision-
makers and affected communities increases the potential for suc-
cess of a project by building trust with local stakeholders and turn-
ing complex data into strategic knowledge for board members.
"Social responsibility is often perceived by explorers and
developers as an amorphous concept, an ideal which is hard to
achieve for a small company," explains Silvana Costa, chair of
AME BC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee
and a senior advisor of environment and social responsibility
for New Gold Inc.
She suggests explorers and developers demonstrate social
responsibility by taking a strategic approach to early environ-
mental work. "In B.C., we have great companies that are lead-
ing the way, building value from environmental data both at
home and abroad," says Costa.
So what steps should companies take to make baseline envi-
ronmental data more meaningful?
Business sustainability and governance expert Christie
Stephenson suggests that we put it in the hands of board
members in a way that is digestible to them. "Companies are
undertaking what can be significantly expensive and resource-
intensive environmental baseline work. They want to be sure
the operational people are pushing it upward so it can be made
sense of by the board," she explains.
Stephenson recognizes that this is easier for larger
REUSING AND SHARING BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
BUILDS VALUE
By Kylie Williams
Magnify
your data
>>
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY