Twenty four years ago, on this day, May 7th, 2002,
The Australian mining industry still has a long way to go in its quest for sustainable development, but a major report on the sector has found it has made considerable progress in meeting its social and environmental obligations. WMC chief executive, Hugh Morgan, will today unveil the Facing the Future report, which investigated the Australian mining industry as part of the Global Mining Initiative undertaken by the world’s biggest miners.
Howarth, I. 2002. Report card on mining industry to be unveiled. Australian Financial Review, May 7, p. 14.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 373ppm. As of 2026 it is 430ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The broader context was that there had been repeated greenwash efforts in Australia around mining and the environment, stretching back to the 70s, probably earlier. One of my favourites was AMEEF launched in 1991.
Anyway, here we see reality catching up with the mining industry. Glossy books were published but the reality was that nothing substantive was being done, because doing anything would cost loads of money or mean not progressing with profitable projects, and neither of those is going to fly in the C suite and at the AGM with the shareholders, who are interested in returns and dividends. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together, and the courage to use them, ultimately knows this.
The specific context was that the Howard Government was clearly not going to ratify Kyoto, or put any constraints at all on the ability of the mining companies to do whatever the hell they wanted.
What I think we can learn from this. It’s all kayfabe.
What happened next. More reports, more pleas for capitalism and industrialism and humanity to act in its long term interest. Meanwhile, the waste remains and the damage accumulates,
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
Also on this day:
May 7, 1935- a “Declaration of Interdependence”
May 7, 1966 – scientist warns public about carbon dioxide build-up…
May 7, 2001 – The American way of life is non-negotiable. Again.