Mining has long played a central role in economic development, supplying the raw materials that underpin modern infrastructure, industry and technology. Today, minerals remain vital for energy systems, transportation, digital technologies and healthcare. As global demand grows - particularly for materials critical to the energy transition and technology - mining continues to drive employment, economic growth and innovation worldwide.

However, the benefits of mining have often come with a heavy price. Abandoned shafts, contaminated rivers and degraded soils, as well as unstable structures like tailings storage facilities, persist long after operations cease. Together with these often highly visible human safety risks and environmental impacts are the less obvious social and economic consequences affecting public health, community livelihoods and cultural connections to land for displaced indigenous and land-connected peoples. Addressing them calls for sustainable, transparent and socially inclusive approaches that can be applied consistently across diverse contexts.

ISO 24419-1, Mine closure and reclamation - Managing mining legacies - Part 1: Requirements and recommendations, responds to this need by providing a comprehensive framework for the sustainable remediation of mining legacies. Developed by a working group of technical subcommittee ISO/TC 82/SC 7 for sustainable mining and mine closure, it covers the full life cycle of remediation with a particular emphasis on governance.

From planning and risk assessment to implementation, closure and stakeholder participation, the standard supports informed decision making, accountability and long-term stewardship. Rather than focusing only on harm reduction, ISO 24419-1 encourages approaches that contribute to environmental recovery, social value creation and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Caridad Project

In Peru, the Caridad Project offers a practical illustration of how implementing this standard can transform liabilities into opportunities. Insights from the project were shared by Miguel Tito Ascue, Head of Planning and Continuous Improvement at Peru's Activos Mineros S.A.C. (AMSAC), which is at the forefront of national planning and continuous improvement in the management of mining legacies.

AMSAC carried out the Caridad Project by addressing the legacy of 91 abandoned mining sites in the high-altitude district of Carampoma, nearly 4 000 metres above sea level. For decades, nearby communities lived with pollution from the former Caridad Mining Unit, including contamination of the Canchis lagoon, a tributary of the Rímac River that supplies water to more than 10 million people in Lima.

Between 2022 and 2024, AMSAC implemented a remediation programme shaped at every stage by ISO 24419-1. Working in a challenging geographical and climatic environment, the project requiredcareful coordination between technical teams, authorities and community members. As a result, 90 of the 91 mining legacies were closed, 16 hectares of lagoon ecosystem were restored, and drainage and water treatment systems were installed to treat acidity and heavy metals. Native high-Andean species were planted to stabilize soils and support ecosystem regeneration.

The standard's emphasis on social inclusion also led to the training of a hundred local residents, which created jobs, building long-term capacity for stewardship. This focus on participation and trust is reflected in how the project team views the role of standards. As Deymer Barturén Huamán, Quality and Process Improvement Specialist at AMSAC, explains:

"The application of the standard is valuable because it confirms our way of working: communities must participate throughout the entire process to build trust and achieve shared benefits. Aligning with an International Standard strengthens the achievements of the Caridad Project and opens the possibility of being replicated in other contexts."

From local action to global relevance

The Peruvian experience reflects a broader consensus of focus on mining legacies. Research by United Nations bodies, including DESA, UNESCAP, IIED and UNEP, as well as the World Economic Forum, consistently identify abandoned and legacy mining sites as a significant sustainability concern. These studies also underline the importance of standardized frameworks in helping governments and communities turn risks into opportunities. Through AMSAC's adoption of ISO 24419-1, Peru has positioned itself at the forefront of this emerging international movement.

Looking ahead, as demand for critical minerals grows and expectations around environmental and social performance continue to rise, frameworks such as ISO 24419-1 will play an increasingly important role. By providing a common reference for sustainable remediation, International Standards help translate these expectations into consistent practice, ensuring mining legacies are addressed in ways that strengthen ecosystems, empower communities, respect indigenous rights and cultural connections, and support sustainable economic development long after mining activities have ended.