Unique survey of the mining industry from $18 trillion-backed investor initiative explores role of finance in fostering a more sustainable mining sector.
- Pivotal role of investors: 81% of mining sector respondents say support from investors is important if companies are to adopt higher sustainability standards; almost 1 in 3 (32%) say it’s ‘extremely important’.
- Consensus needed: 85% of mining industry respondents want investors to agree shared expectations for sustainability performance – an action being taken forward by the Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 that is due to report at the end of October.
- Both help and hinderance: 95% of mining majors surveyed find investors helpful in adopting higher sustainability standards to at least some extent; in the wider mining sector however over half (53%) say investors can sometimes, or frequently, create barriers to the adoption of high sustainability standards by the sector.
- Investors are also asked to engage with regulators and standard setters to create a ‘level playing field’ for the mining industry, and to link sustainability outcomes with access to lower-cost of capital.
- Global Investor Commission Chair, Adam Matthews, said; “We wanted to know what role investors play in incentivising the mining sector. The results of the survey are a fundamental challenge from industry to the way investors currently incentivise and drive performance in the mining sector. The results inform the Global Investor Commission and the recommendations we will be proposing at the end of October.”
(London, 10/10/25). Ahead of next week’s annual LME (London Metal Exchange) Week in London where mining and finance leaders will meet, a unique survey of the global mining sector undertaken by GlobeScan on behalf of the Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 underlines the influence and importance of the finance sector to improving sustainability in mining. The survey takes opinions from across the mining industry including some of the world’s largest mining firms, mid-tier and junior miners and related stakeholders.
A large majority of mining sector respondents (81%) are clear that investor support is important, or very important, for the adoption of higher sustainability standards by their companies. But over half (53%) warn that investors can sometimes, or frequently, create barriers to this goal.
When asked what miners would like to see from investors – an overwhelming majority of sector respondents (85%) ask for an investor consensus on expectations of the sector when it comes to sustainability performance. Mining respondents also want to see rewards for those with high sustainability standards – such as access to lower cost of capital.
The survey found:
- 81% of mining respondents believe support from investors is important or extremely important to attain high sustainability standards, rising to 90% among mining majors.
- 87% of mining respondents agree that their organisations are influenced by investor views when making sustainability-related decisions.
- An overwhelming majority (85%) of mining companies surveyed want investors to form a consensus on expectations for the sector on sustainability performance. This is something the Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 has been working on creating.
- One area of challenge highlighted by mining companies is the short-termism that can work against companies seeking to introduce more sustainable practices. So although 95% of mining majors surveyed find investors at least somewhat helpful, over half (53%) of mining respondents find that investors can sometimes, or frequently, create barriers to the adoption of high sustainability standards. Perceived obstacles include short-termism, prioritisation of returns over sustainability considerations, rigidity of frameworks and not reflecting high sustainability standards in the share price.
- Other items the mining sector would like to see from the finance sector is for it to engage with regulators and standard setters to ensure a ‘level playing field’ on sustainability; to link access to lower-cost capital with sustainability outcomes; and to pay more attention to community development impacts.
Adam Matthews, Chair of the Global Investor Commission (also Chief Responsible Investment Officer for Church of England Pensions Board, and member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals), said:
“Current investor practices too often create barriers rather than backing those mining firms trying to improve sustainability performance.
“We wanted to know what role investors play in incentivising the mining sector. The results of the survey are a fundamental challenge from industry to the way investors currently incentivise and drive performance in the mining sector. Mining is essential to our economies and the way we invest – from providing capital to setting expectations – will be pivotal to the sector’s ability to meet future demand responsibly. The results of the survey directly inform the Global Investor Commission and the recommendations we will be proposing at the end of October.
“The mining sector is fundamental to the global economy, and we’ll need hundreds of new mines to supply the minerals needed for a lower-carbon world. Responsible investors want to benefit from this growth but need to know that social and environmental risks are being managed. That makes it mission critical for investors and the mining sector to work in partnership to raise the industry’s sustainability standards.
“Most urgently, investors must reach a consensus on the sustainability expectations they have from the sector. We must hold both mining companies and ourselves accountable to these, and help build the international financial infrastructure that rewards good practice – including better access to capital when high sustainability standards are reached.
“These are issues the Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 will respond to in detail with the publication of its proposed 10-year vision and recommendations for investors.”.
Ashley Hamilton Claxon, Head of Responsible Investment at Royal London Asset Management added:
“Building a socially and environmentally responsible mining sector is a complex, systemic challenge that demands meaningful progress from all stakeholders—including investors. That progress begins with a shared vision that fosters confidence and alignment across the sector, inspiring and incentivising a race to the top. The survey results underscore the importance of establishing a clear and credible pathway for responsible mining—one that earns the trust of stakeholders and gives investors confidence that sustainability risks are being actively managed.”
Launched in 2022, the Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 is a multi-stakeholder investor-led initiative that includes representatives from a broad cross-section of geographies and mining stakeholder groups. It aims to define a vision for a socially and environmentally responsible mining sector overall by 2030, and to develop a consensus about the role of finance in realising this vision. It will publish its vision and recommendations for the sector in November 2025. Investor supporters include Brunel Pension Partnership, the Church of England Pensions Board, KLP, LGIM, Orion Resource Partners, Pimco, Regnan, Swedish National Pension Funds (AP1-4) Ninety-One and Royal London Asset Management.
The multi-language survey was managed by GlobeScan and received responses from over 60 mining industry practitioners including mining majors, mid-tier and junior miners and wider stakeholders. The goal of the survey was to explore the role of finance in fostering a more responsible mining sector.
The Commission secretariat is provided by Chronos Sustainability.