El medio ambiente en la minería

EL MEDIO AMBIENTE EN LA MINERIA 28 .. Sorne 22 countries have developed environmentallabeUing programs. These labels suggest that a particular product is more environmentally friendly than similar ones. The decision may be based onone or only a few criteria whose weights in the decision process could vary from country to country and produet to produet, thereby renderlng the decision-making process arbitrary and often of dubious environrnental value. It is a widely held belief that, by tightening environmental standards, new technologies and industries will emerge to the point of compensating for the economie losses. Those countries that believe they bave developed a strong environrnental industrial and tecbnological base or where costs of environ– mental protection are high, willlikely attempt to lobby Cor strieter enVÍíon– mental standards in otber countries. Similarly, these countries can be expected to be in the forefront in intemational environrnental negotiations, supporting the highest common global standards possible. The benefit would be new export orders tied to their exclusive environmental technology, as well as increased costs ofdomestically-produced goods in the importing country. For example, because of its early green consciousness, Germany may be in sueh a position in the Ee. No doubt, there are a variety ofother instruments and techniques that'can be used. For this reason, a good deal ofvigilance and understanding is needéd by governmentsof the economic and commercial consequences ofenvironmental policies and regulatory aetions. Solutions must be found that allow environ– mental objectives to be met while avoiding the creation of unintended, un– necessary oc unfair market distortions, and of non-tariff barriers to trade: Before leaving this topie, let me point to a recent example of a multí-Iateral environmental agreement whieh 1 believe ilIustrates the importance of being sensitive to the potential non-tariff trade barriers inherent in environmental polieies: the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazard– ous Wastes. The intent of the Convention is to make it difficult, if not impossible, for hazardous and other wastes to be transported internationally. One problem with tbe Convention is that its definidon of waste ¡neludes recyclable materials, hence, many recycÍable materlals will be ~ubject to trade restrictions. The recyeling industry, aweU-established international business worth billions of dollars, is essential for sustainable development praetices and vitally impor– tant to ferrous and non·ferrous metallurgy. It now faces onerous and bureaucratic information requirements, ¡neluding the certification that wastes to be exported will be processed in an environrnentally-sound manner in the importing country. Trade in so-calÍed hazardous wastes by signatories with