DiversityInclusionThe expectation for equitable, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable practices and behaviour from extractive industries investors has never been greater. It is a challenging context for investors and industry players to achieve the right balancing act to meet these expectations, while continuing to conduct essential operations and develop projects that are necessary to meet global demand in the oil and gas and mining sectors. A lack of understanding about the benefits deriving from and necessity for continued investments in the extractive industries seems to permeate the dialogue around the extractive industries in many societies. Nonetheless, we still see many diverse approaches from investors, governments and communities across different parts of the world when it comes to investment in extractive industries, project development and community relations.

This session will attempt to discuss what is working in different parts of the globe, reviewing successful and not-so-successful experiences and how these practical examples can help guide the evolution of the extractive industries in the future.

In this context, this showcase panel will: 

• address the viability of adopting some form of general standards for the extractive industries, seeking to offer a toolkit to balance the interests of extractive industry investors and companies, the development goals and rights of affected communities and global sustainability and environmental objectives;
• present speakers from different backgrounds who will debate key topics, including among other matters, free and prior informed consent, types of regulatory regimes, impacts on affected communities, human rights, economic participation and benefits sharing, fiscal stability and dispute resolution; and
• highlight the important role of the legal community to collaborate in these efforts and help bridge the diverse interests of different stakeholders involved in and affected by the extractive industries.