Sustainability

The CDP’s goal is to encourage a rational response to climate change, water management and biodiversity by facilitating a dialogue between stakeholders and businesses supported by harmonized, quality data. Agnico Eagle began reporting to the CDP in 2007 and continues to report on an annual basis.

To consult our latest CDP disclosures, click here. 

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sets out specific criteria and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report on their economic, environmental and social performance. We measure our performance using the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, including mining industry specific indicators incorporated in the GRI’s Mining and Metals Sector Supplement (MMSS). Agnico Eagle self-declares that we are following the GRI Standards: Core Options.

To consult our 2019 GRI Index and Data Table, click here.

For more information, visit globalreporting.org.

The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Metals and Mining disclosures and metrics identify financially material sustainability topics and metrics relevant for our industry. Agnico Eagle began reporting SASB disclosures and metrics for the 2019 reporting year and will continue to report on an annual basis.

To consult our 2019 SASB Index and Date Table, click here.

Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) promotes best practices in environmental protection, energy efficiency, community engagement, safety and transparency. In 2018, all six Agnico Eagle sites that undertook a TSM external audit (covering the year 2017) were honoured with a TSM Leadership Award. Each site achieved Level A or better in all key performance indicators. TSM external audits are performed every three years, with the next one scheduled for 2021, and improved performance during these audits is a condition of membership in MAC. Annual self-audits are carried out. Both external and self-audits are disclosed publicly mine by mine on the MAC website.

For more information on TSM, visit mining.ca.

The Kittila, Pinos Altos, La India and Meadowbank mines are certified as compliant with the International Cyanide Management Code (ICMC) – a voluntary program developed under the guidance of United Nations Environmental Program in partnership with members of the International Council on Metals and the Environment. The LaRonde and Meliadine mines are working toward their first certifications in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The audit reports are disclosed publicly on the ICMC website mine by mine.

For more information on ICMC, visit cyanidecode.org.

Agnico Eagle is working to support progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). We recognize that the mining industry has an opportunity to positively contribute to all 17 of the SDGs.

For more information on UN SDGs, click here.

Agnico Eagle is committed to the principles of transparency and to increasing our level of disclosure on the payment of all taxes and royalties to governments. For 2019, we have reported all payments in accordance with the “Publish What You Pay” initiative, and the Canadian Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA).

To consult our latest ESTMA report, click here.

Agnico Eagle understands that operating responsibly and maintaining the trust of our stakeholders requires us to demonstrate that the gold we produce has been extracted in a manner that does not fuel unlawful armed conflict or contribute to serious human rights abuses or breaches of international law. As such, we have adopted and implemented the World Gold Council’s (WGC) Conflict-Free Gold Standard (CFGS).

Conformance with the CFGS demonstrates that gold has been extracted in a manner that does not cause, support or benefit unlawful armed conflict or contribute to serious human rights abuses or breaches of international humanitarian law. Agnico Eagle implemented the CFGS, beginning with the 2013 calendar year.

Under the CFGS, companies are required to issue a Certification Report which outlines their adherence. The Report is updated annually and is issued within 120 days of the year-end, or as required by the CFGS.

Our Certification Report has been verified by Ernst & Young, an independent assurance provider. Ernst & Young conducted its assessment under the CFGS for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2019. It confirmed that the mines identified under Section A – the Pinos Altos, Creston Mascota and La India operations in Mexico – are in conformance with the CFGS.

Click here for more information about Agnico Eagle’s commitment to the CFGS and to view our annual Statement of Conformance and Certification reports.

In 2019, the WGC launched the Responsible Gold Mining Framework (RGMP), a new framework that sets out clear expectations for consumers, investors and the downstream gold supply chain as to what constitutes responsible gold mining. The WGC has set out the Principles that it believes address key environmental, social and governance concerns for the gold mining sector. As a member of the WGC, we have committed to implement the Principles and complete an external verification within three years. In 2019, we completed a gap analysis to identify the areas not covered by the commitments that we have already made

For more information on RGMP, click here.

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs) guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Agnico Eagle began adopting the VPs in 2016 and became a formal member in 2017.

For more information on VPs, visit voluntaryprinciples.org.

To consult our annual report, click here.

Responsible tailings management is part of the commitments made in our Sustainable Development Policy. It means we are committed to managing tailings facilities to minimize effects on the environment and protect the health and safety of our employees and communities.

To fulfill our commitment to responsible tailings management, we locate, design, construct, operate, decommission and close tailings facilities while ensuring that:

• All structures are stable;
• All solids are managed within designated areas;
• All aspects of tailings management comply with regulatory requirements, Company standards, sound engineering principles and applicable industry best practices, including the principles of MAC’s Tailings Guide; and
• Leadership, personal commitment and accountability from all employees and contractors involved in tailings management is promoted.

We continue to implement the Mining Association of Canada’s (MAC) tailings management governance model, which provides clear accountability for tailings management. For more details on our tailings management, consult our Tailings Summary Report.