The IGF participated in the annual meeting of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), held March 5-8, 2017. The IGF’s side event focused on the critical role innovation will play in mining to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Approximately 150 representatives from government, industry, civil society and academia gathered for the engaging event. The importance of partnerships, relating to SDG 17, was a common theme cutting across all aspects of the innovation discussions. The involvement of communities was another central theme deemed critical to spurring the innovation required to achieve the SDGs.
The sustainability forum included expert panels and facilitated roundtable discussions focused on the following innovation topics:
- Technology, including digitalization
- Clean innovation, including energy
- Business models, including financing
- Social innovation, including partnerships and engagement