Answering the environmental challenge

Public opinion surveys indicate environmental sensitivity in the US and throughout the world is on an ever-increasing upward trend. This sensitivity can evidence itself in many different ways. Of particular interest to mining companies is that public opposition to projects, such as new mines, has often become the limiting factor in project success. Opposition can delay projects, wreaking havoc with budgets and schedules, and can even derail the project entirely, resulting in loss of upfront investments and lost opportunities to capitalize on reserves. With the public playing such a critical role, it becomes essential for companies to develop a solid understanding of what factors cause citizens to trust or distrust a company and to support or oppose a given project. With such insight, the company can then employ techniques for gaining community support. If a company can develop this expertise to the extent that it becomes preferred by communities because of its environmental reputation, the company will have turned a potential threat into a business advantage. This advantage will show up, not only in smoother relationships with the public, but also in the bottom line because of the ability to develop mines more quickly and more efficiently