According to Parnassus Investments, companies that fail to manage and reduce their pollution impacts increase exposure to material financial risks, including heightened regulatory scrutiny, potential litigation, operational disruptions, and damage to brand reputation.[1] This is particularly true when company actions create environmental injustice, which amplifies the impacts of the climate crisis on already overburdened communities, reducing their capacity to adapt and recover from climate harm.[2] Investors recognize that unmanaged environmental justice risks can disrupt operations, weaken competitiveness, and erode long-term shareholder value.

Newmont operates in the pollution heavy materials sector, with international mining operations across the globe.[3] Newmont Corporation’s global portfolio includes projects, such as Yanacocha in Peru, Akyem in Ghana, and the former Buyat Bay operation in Indonesia, each of which are documented as having significant impacts on surrounding communities, including land displacement, environmental harms, and disputes over water contamination.[4] Similarly, the Company’s operations at the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine in Colorado have raised concerns about the permissible level of air pollution in surrounding communities.[5]

Such incidents which undermine community trust and create tangible social and environmental risks can translate into material operational, financial, and reputational risks for the Company. Community opposition, legal challenges, regulatory scrutiny, and reduced license to operate can disrupt production and increase costs and long-term operating stability.

Newmont’s 2020 global Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement Policy acknowledges the need to “build trust with communities through transparent and respectful stakeholder engagement and as responsible stewards of the environment in accordance with the principles of sustainable development”.[6] However, the Company has not conducted environmental justice assessments or audits regarding the scope and impact of any of their operations or disclosed such information. Conducting environmental justice audits would assist Newmont in mitigating adverse impacts on affected communities while reducing legal liabilities and brand damage.

[1] https://www.parnassus.com/updates/article/investment_case_for_environmental_justice

[2] https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2020/09/22/climate-change-environmental-justice/

[3] https://operations.newmont.com

[4] https://www.ghanaenvironment.com/calls-for-newmont-to-fix-deplorable-roads-deepens-as-traditional-leaders-raises-concerns/; https://earthworks.org/blog/peruvian-communities-challenge-newmont-mining-operations-as-investors-meet/; https://earthworks.org/blog/buyat_bay_and_ratatatok

[5] https://peer.org/gold-mine-expansion-ok-shows-broken-air-permit-process/

[6] https://s24.q4cdn.com/382246808/files/doc_downloads/2020/11/Sustainability-and-Stakeholder-Engagement-Policy.pdf