Sustainable Development at BHP Billiton
The most commonly stated definition of sustainable development is ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. (Source: World Commission on Environment and Development [Bruntland Commission], 1987)
For BHP Billiton, sustainable development is about ensuring our business remains viable and contributes lasting benefits to society through the consideration of social, environmental, ethical and economic aspects in all that we do.
Line managers therefore have ultimate accountability for ensuring our businesses contribute to sustainable development, and move towards Zero Harm, through the implementation of processes such as our HSEC Management Standards and Guide to Business Conduct.
For example, while a particular mine site or petroleum development may not be sustainable because the reserves will be depleted over time, the mine can still make a valuable contribution to a society’s overall pursuit of sustainable development. The project creates employment, provides the opportunity for training and skills enhancement, pays taxes and royalties that can contribute to government services such as education and health care and provides the opportunity for support and spin-off industries.
Mineral and petroleum extraction also contribute products that are essential to all modern societies and economies. Without materials generated by the extractive sector, basic needs such as shelter, transport and energy would not be met.
The extractive process can therefore be seen as transforming a form of natural capital — mineral resources — into social capital — infrastructure, skills and the like — that can then contribute to further development.
The proposition that the value of our products outweighs any environmental or social impacts is, however, not acceptable. We have established a strategic approach to sustainable development that looks not only at what we need to do at a business level but also involves participation in a number of initiatives to better understand how we can minimise our impacts, while maximising our broader contributions to society.Read:
- the Business Case that we apply in progressing sustainable Development
- Our Approach to Sustainable Development for details on our vision, strategy for sustainable development and how we measure the progress of our contributions to sustainability.
