‘Examining Sustainable Development Challenges and the Role of Company-Consultancy Partnering in Creating Value: The Case of the Canadian Mining Industry.’

This paper examines existing and emerging sustainable development challenges facing the Canadian mining industry. It explores how mining companies and consultancies can work together to address these challenges, and anticipate emerging challenges, in a manner that will simultaneously contribute to sustainable development and drive shareholder value. The sustainable challenges facing the mining industry are ever-changing; as a result, interviews were conducted as the primary source of qualitative information collection. Eight mining industry professionals and nine consultants were interviewed. The interview finding identified several current and emerging sustainable development challenges facing the mining industry. These included: improving stakeholder engagement, increasing sustainable development performance disclosure, developing and implementing a sustainable development certification program, incorporating voluntary initiatives into company strategies, articulating the business case for sustainable development, addressing the challenges associated with developing nations, improving value chain management, incorporating sustainable development principles into mine closure plans, and managing and adapting to climate change. From the interview results, it is evident that the consultancies understand the sustainable development challenges facing mining companies and are on the forefront of anticipating emerging needs. The industry professionals and consultants agreed that the current needs exist not because the consultants fail to recognize their existence, but rather because both the companies and consultancies lack the capabilities to effectively address all of the complexities involved in dealing with these issues. Sustainable development issues often necessitate quick, adaptable, long-term and dynamic solutions and the structure of many organizations, including mining companies and sustainable development consultancies, may not allow for the flexibility and creativity required to develop such solutions. Mining companies are currently focused on improving their reputation and legitimacy. Furthermore, in order to ensure future success and competitiveness, mining companies must also address the needs of developing nations, develop and integrate clean technologies into their operations, and facilitate the continual improvement of pollution prevention techniques. Developing the culture, capabilities, connectivity and commitments that support the principles of sustainable development will equip both mining companies and consultancies with the ability to address the unique and multidimensional challenges of sustainable development in a manner which will maximize the creation of sustainable value; thus, it is important that both mining companies and consultancies develop and nurture these four key areas of organization. From the current paper, it becomes evident that company-consultancy partnerships are an important strategy that will improve global progress towards sustainable development and drive shareholder value.