NEO Panel: Corporate Responsibility in the Minerals Sector

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 page Antoinette van der Merwe, Swiss Minerals Observatory Member, Institute of Science, Technology and Policy, ETH Zurich
• external page Prof. Dr. Stefan Leins, Assistant Professor in Anthropology, University of Konstanz
  

From the Industry:

• Dr. Nina Eggert, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, external page Swiss Trading and Shipping Association
• external page James Nicholson, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Trafigura
  

From the Government:

• Frédéric Chenais, Political Advisor Business and Human Rights, external page Federal 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.