Exploring the foundations for effective stakeholder engagement in marine aggregates mining: Experiences in the United Kingdom and the United States

[摘要] CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans Flagship is currently undertaking a program of social research which aims to understand community and stakeholder perceptions of a prospective seafloor exploration and mining (SEM) industry in Australia. To date, this research has explored stakeholders' concerns and reactions to the idea of SEM, the information needed to evaluate its acceptability, and the values that influence how the SEM proposition is evaluated. Among the findings of this research it has been indicated that stakeholders require certainty in the governance of SEM in Australia, and its responsiveness to the interests of the environment and stakeholders. Given the SEM industry in Australia is still emerging, it is in a unique position to be able to incorporate effective governance and stakeholder engagement principles to all stages of development.Comparison between international offshore aggregate industries, legislation, regulatory stakeholder consultation requirements, and trends in stakeholder consultation and engagement can therefore provide models for good practice in Australia. To gain an understanding of the regulatory frameworks that underpin the marine aggregate industry globally, and also what stakeholder consultation practices are prescribed, Johns (2010) conducted a desktop review of regulatory frameworks in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.These three countries were chosen to represent different styles of industry, types of involvement and varying legislation requirements of offshore aggregate industries. For Australia, it is important to understand how marine aggregate industries internationally have tried to establish a social licence to operate, and the issues that they have encountered. This is the focus of this report. Empirical social research collected first-hand accounts of stakeholder engagement practised in the industry in the US and the UK. Eighteen interviews were conducted with stakeholders regarding their experiences and opinions in regard to stakeholder engagement. Interviews were then qualitatively analysed to explore the themes, or factors, at play in positive and negative accounts of stakeholder engagement processes. The results observed in this research indicate that stakeholders’ accounts of engagement in relation to marine aggregates mining in the UK and US, whether negative and positive, revolved around three themes – the quality of relationships, the legitimacy of information and the supportiveness of regulations. Perceptions regarding the nature of these three themes were pivotal to positive or negative accounts of stakeholder engagement. In positive accounts, relationships are seen as collaborative, information is trusted, and regulations provide certainty to the engagement process. In negative accounts, relationships are conflicting, information is not trusted, and regulations provide little certainty. The results of this research provide a framework for maximising the conditions, or foundations, for effective stakeholder engagement prior to substantial development of a marine aggregates industry in Australia. A conceptual model of these foundations is provided.

[发布日期] 2010-08-21 [发布机构] CSIRO

[学科分类] 地球科学(综合)