CSR Europe Set to Advocate Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration on Raw Materials in Global Dialogues
CSR Europe will take the stage alongside prominent speakers at the European Commission’s Raw Materials Summit in Brussels on the 16th of May; the OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains in Paris on the 21st and 24th May; and the DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi on 13th June
Raw materials supply chains significantly impact local ecosystems and have the potential to either facilitate or hinder improvements in living standards and environmental conditions.
To cultivate resilient and responsible supply chains in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and other global ethical standards, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the Sustainable Development Goals, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the Principles for Responsible Investing, businesses must engage with stakeholders at every level. This engagement entails collaborating with peers, suppliers, governments, communities, and civil society organisations operating within their ecosystem.
As stakeholders are gathering to the upcoming Raw Materials Summit in Brussels on 14-16 May, the 2024 OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains in Paris on 21-24 May, and the DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi on 12-14 June, CSR Europe will bring the voice of proactive businesses on these international stages.
14-16 MAY | THE RAW MATERIALS SUMMIT
CSR Europe’s Executive Director, Stefan Crets, will join the Raw Materials Summit panel on EU-Africa Mineral Collaboration, on Thursday 16 May, between 16:00-16:45 CEST. Alongside with Carsten Sorensen, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission’s DG-INTPA, Jerry Ahadjie, Chief Minerals Officer at the African Development Bank, and Jean Claude Guillaneau, Director International Affairs at BRGM, he will explore how Europe can forge strategic partnerships with Africa, contributing to diversifying its mineral supply chains. He will present the case of Extractives 4 Sustainability, a project in which CSR Europe contributed to create local sustainability networks in South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Companies interested in participating to the Raw Materials Summit, can register here. CSR Europe members can benefit from a 10% ticket discount.
21-24 MAY | THE OECD FORUM ON RESPONSIBLE MINERAL SUPPLY CHAINS
On 21 May, CSR Europe will host the partner session “Investment for Sustainable Minerals Value Chains” in collaboration with Drive Sustainability, LSE Ideas, and the International Peace Information Service (IPIS). The event will address the crucial role of responsible investments and the adherence to EU regulations in promoting sustainability throughout the minerals value chain, particularly in sensitive regions like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Furthermore, CSR Europe’s leading automotive partnership, Drive Sustainability, will host a session on “Implementing the EU Battery Regulation: opportunities and challenges”, together with the Responsible Minerals Initiative, and Responsible Cobalt Initiative on 24 May. Building on the due diligence requirements set out in the Battery Regulation, this session aims to explore:
The evolution of the regulatory requirements and their on-the-ground implementation.
The implications for downstream companies’ due diligence processes and responsible sourcing strategies.
Approaches adopted by upstream companies, particularly Chinese value chain players, in response to the EU Battery Regulation.
The role of sustainability initiatives in supporting companies to meet regulatory requirements and deliver impact through collective engagement and the development of common tools, such as the Drive Sustainability Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQ), the RMI newly updated ESG Standard, and the RCI assessment tool.
Stakeholders interested in joining the OECD Minerals Forum, can register here.
13 JUNE | DRC MINING WEEK
On 13th June, CSR Europe will be in Lubumbashi at the DRC Mining Week to make the case for collaboration between mining companies to advance local socio-economic impact.
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