Suchergebnisse

AbstractMember companies of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) have committed to publish externally assured sustainability reports. This paper evaluates the quality of assurance provided to those companies by analyzing the extent to which a sample of their assurance statements met minimum recommended contents. It also seeks to understand the implications of the recently launched ICMM Assurance Procedure. Nine out of the sixteen companies hired assurance in the period analyzed. Their statements mirrored several quality problems highlighted in previous studies. The extensive scope limitations and diversity of verification criteria employed by assurors indicate that mining companies had significant control over the practice. The Assurance Procedure might bring more consistency and breadth to the verification process. The extent to which it will contribute to increased trust in reported information will depend on several factors, including how assurors may interpret the procedure's requirements. Directions for further research are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

O processo de descentralização e democratização da gestão e da política ambiental pública enfrenta o desafio de garantir a participação da população. Um dos mecanismos de participação popular na condução das questões ambientais é o Conselho Municipal de Meio Ambiente. Apesar do recente crescimento quantitativo desses conselhos no Brasil, muitos autores questionam se esse órgão garante a participação efetiva da sociedade na política ambiental local. Esse artigo busca contribuir para o melhor entendimento da efetividade dos conselhos municipais de meio ambiente ao investigar o grau e a qualidade da participação da população nos Conselhos de Meio Ambiente de cinco municípios da região do Médio Piracicaba/MG. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa baseada em entrevistas estruturadas, revisões documentais, observações diretas e revisões da literatura. Os resultados, de maneira geral, indicam que ainda é baixo o grau de participação da população nos conselhos e que a participação ocorre principalmente para atender interesses individuais.

Abstract Environmental licensing and environmental impact assessment have been increasingly implemented by Brazilian municipalities, which have been historically plagued by problems of institutional capacity. The aim of this article was to critically synthetize the regulations and scientific empirical studies about the decentralized implementation of such tools in Brazilian municipalities, as well as to explore the perception of specialists about this phenomenon. This study adopted a predominantly qualitative and sequential approach, informed by data collected through content analysis of state regulations and a focus group. Overall, findings show that part of the objectives of the 25 reviewed regulations is not clearly reflected in practice. The 53 identified publications corroborate the existence of problems of institutional capacity in municipalities. The focus group revealed that decentralization, despite the challenges, could be a driver of institutional capacity at local administrations. The article highlights the need for capacity-building and institutional innovation, and suggests future avenues of research.

Abstract Environmental licensing and environmental impact assessment have been increasingly implemented by Brazilian municipalities, which have been historically plagued by problems of institutional capacity. The aim of this article was to critically synthetize the regulations and scientific empirical studies about the decentralized implementation of such tools in Brazilian municipalities, as well as to explore the perception of specialists about this phenomenon. This study adopted a predominantly qualitative and sequential approach, informed by data collected through content analysis of state regulations and a focus group. Overall, findings show that part of the objectives of the 25 reviewed regulations is not clearly reflected in practice. The 53 identified publications corroborate the existence of problems of institutional capacity in municipalities. The focus group revealed that decentralization, despite the challenges, could be a driver of institutional capacity at local administrations. The article highlights the need for capacity-building and institutional innovation, and suggests future avenues of research.

In Canada, and many resource-based economies, governments have been very effective in promoting and exploiting mineral development to accomplish various national objectives. Much less certain, and relatively overlooked by the research community, is whether or not governing institutions have the capacity to create and implement the complex and adaptive strategies identified as crucial for addressing the environmental challenges posed by mining. We explore the institutional capacity to govern for sustainability and offer some possible strategies relevant not only to Canadian policymakers, but to other world-leading mineral-producing countries. Adapted from the source document.

PurposeThis paper seeks to critically analyse the list of principles on the extractive phase of the electronics supply chains, proposed for consumer electronic companies, by the non‐governmental campaign MakeITfair. The purpose is to understand whether conformance with these principles could positively influence the socio‐environmental conditions at the mining level.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the literature on incorporation of corporate social responsibility in supply chain management. It then examines how metals are mined, traded and used in electronics, as well as how the mining industry has been managing its own socio‐environmental problems. This information underpins the qualitative discussion of the principles.FindingsMakeITfair's principles were found to be constructive insofar as they draw the attention of electronic companies to their shared responsibility for the problems of distant‐tier suppliers. Nevertheless, some principles may lead to potentially undesired outcomes such as biased prioritization of mining companies or regions, adoption of contentious "standards", and conflicts concerning the sovereign rights of nations over their natural resources. Overall, the principles stress traceability mechanisms as means of influencing the mining phase of supply chains without considering the costs and benefits of overcoming the complexities involved in the metal trade and other barriers. The paper concludes by highlighting the need to consider additional ways of positively influencing metals supply.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper points out specific research priorities in the value chains of metals.Originality/valueThe paper provides a critical analysis of intricate responsibility issues in the supply chain of the world's top electronic companies.