The Drivers and Performance of Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility in the Canadian Mining Industry

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a movement which seeks profitable solutions to environmental and social problems facing corporations and society. In this document firm level drivers of CSR adoption are examined to develop a business case for social/environmental factor integration, built on the link between each driver and profitability. A review of CSR is followed by an examination of a set of short case studies involving the Canadian mining industry and an analysis of the environmental/social efforts of mining organizations, focusing on the industry’s environmental performance and its relationship with aboriginal peoples. It is argued that a positive link exists between firm level profitability and environmental/social performance in the Canadian mining industry. As a result, mining firms have undertaken initiatives which have led to improved environmental and social performance.MAS