NEO Panel: Corporate Responsibility in the Minerals Sector
Switzerland is a major trade hub for many commodities, such as coffee, cereals but also metals. Therefore, the Swiss economy is facilitating supply of these goods and links producers with consumers. This NEO Panel in collaboration with ETH's Institute of Science, Technology and Policy (ISTP) will elaborate on the role of Swiss commodity traders in sustainable mining, and their responsibilities.
Description
Switzerland is a major trade hub for many commodities, such as coffee, cereals but also metals. Therefore, the Swiss economy is facilitating supply of these goods and links producers with consumers. Since this trade is complex and many producers and consumers exist, the information on origins and production standards might be lost. This NEO Panel in collaboration with ETH's Institute of Science, Technology and Policy (ISTP) will elaborate on the role of Swiss commodity traders in sustainable mining, and their responsibilities.
Introduction Talk
An input talk by Livia Cabernard from the ISTP's Swiss Minerals Observatory will focus on the physical trade and environmental impacts of minerals and the North-South context (where do the impacts occur and where are the minerals consumed), which can be tracked through trade data. In the mining market, Switzerland is not a producer, only a small consumer, but a major trader. Tracking the trade is much more difficult, since official statistics do not provide such information and the goods never cross Swiss borders. Fine gold is an exemption to this, as the majority of worlds production is done in Switzerland. She will present a summary of a recent study looking into trade and environmental impacts of Switzerland and putting the question on the responsibility of the traders, which are big in Switzerland.
Panel Discussion
Afterwards, an exciting panel with the following people from academia, industry and the government will be hosted.
From Academia:
- external pageAntoinette van der Merwe, Swiss Minerals Observatory Member, Institute of Science, Technology and Policy, ETH Zurich
- external pageProf. Dr. Stefan Leins, Assistant Professor in Anthropology, University of Konstanz
From the Industry:
- Dr. Nina Eggert, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, external pageSwiss Trading and Shipping Association
- external pageJames Nicholson, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Trafigura
From the Government:
- Frédéric Chenais, Political Advisor Business and Human Rights, external pageFederal Department of Foreign Affairs
Moderated by:
- Nicolas Solenthaler, Institute of Science, Technology and Policy, ETH Zürich.
An apéro will follow, providing the possibility of further discussing the topic with colleagues and experts.
- For more information about the Swiss Minerals Observatory, please visit the Swiss Minerals Observatory webpage.
- For more information about the NEO Network, please visit the external pageNEO Network webpage.