OUR SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
The New Gold Sustainability Strategy provides insights on the company’s priorities and approach to operating a sustainable business. It is designed to give context to our annual Sustainability report and to provide a window into how we view non-financial performance as a key value driver for all New Gold stakeholders.
ANCHORS, FOCUS AREAS AND GOALS
Our Sustainability Strategy is rooted in three Anchor areas: Environment, Community Engagement and Indigenous Rights.
Environment
By their nature, mining operations affect the use and quality of air, water and the land, including wildlife habitats. Mining operations also have an impact on the climate through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use.
As members of a responsible mining community, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and returning it to conditions that are the same or better than they were when we began operations.
Long-Term Goal
To minimize impact to the environment.
Focus Area Goals
- Climate Action – Target a 30 percent decrease in its GHG emissions by 2030 through greater electrification and other energy reduction strategies. (UN SDG 7, 13)
- Water Management – Target 100 percent recycled water in operations by 2030 and strive to be a net neutral water consumer over life of mine by returning clean excess water to the external environment. (UN SDG 6)
- Tailings Management – Ensure compliance with Mining Association of Canada (MAC) Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Protocol and Canadian Dam Association (CDA) requirements. Continuously review and enhance post-closure tailings management strategies building on internal learnings and investment in external research and innovation.
(UN SDG 6, 12, 13)
Community Engagement
At New Gold, the relationships we have with the communities where we operate have a significant impact on all aspects of our financial and non-financial performance.
With these impacts in mind, New Gold takes an inclusive and responsive approach to engaging communities that is designed to maximize positive outcomes, strengthen community resilience, and protect the safety and well-being of all people affected by our operations.
Long-Term Goal
To contribute to operating communities that are self-sustaining and free from poverty and inequality.
Focus Area Goals
- Social Management – Develop a Social Management System to guide and inform engagement, community investment and local economic development activities by 2022. (UN SDG 1, 3, 11)
- Community Investment – Develop and implement a Community Investment Strategy and metrics that support our Sustainability Strategy and the United Nations’ UN Sustainability Development Goals by late 2021. (UN SDG 1, 4, 8)
- Local Economic Development – Strengthen institutional capacity and develop alternative industries in local areas; this includes supporting the increase of more Indigenous-owned businesses. (UN SDG 8, 11)
Indigenous Rights
Honouring the needs, beliefs, culture and traditions of Indigenous peoples is central to New Gold’s approach to sustainability. We make every effort to understand the history and culture of our Indigenous partners, knowing that the ongoing viability of our operations depends on their support.
We strive to operate with the utmost respect on traditional lands, to actively promote the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples, and to create consistently positive outcomes for our Indigenous Communities of Interest.
Long-Term Goal
To generate economic benefits for communities through skills training, business development support and minimizing barriers to contract opportunities in an effort to help support community well-being with long-term value creation.
Focus Area Goals
- Reconciliation – Respect the rights of Indigenous peoples, incorporating the culture and traditions of Indigenous communities into our company culture. (UN SDG 1, 11, 16)
- Community Well-Being – Deliver positive social, economic and environmental outcomes for communities and Indigenous peoples based on community-defined aspirations. (UN SDG 1, 3, 4, 11)
- Economic Benefit – Set a target to increase Indigenous employment and procurement by end of 2021 to improve local Indigenous economic benefits in the areas where we operate. (UN SDG 1, 8, 11)