The environmental regulation of mining: an international comparison

Over the past 15 years, significant sectors of the mining industry have undertaken the Global Mining Initiative. This was followed by an extensive program called the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project. These self regulatory mechanisms require 'beyond compliance' environmental behaviour, whether companies are operating in the developed or the developing world. Reviewing case studies of gold mines operated by the 'top tier' transnational mining companies in Queensland, Papua New Guinea and Tanzania, this thesis addresses whether these and other self regulatory mechanisms are more important than formal legislation in motivating compliance with environmental laws for these mining companies.