Environmental Impact and CSR Responsibilities

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility is a multidimensional concept consisting of economic, social, and environmental dimensions. In the pursuit of profit, organizations are expected to be responsible towards the environment. However, different sectors of the economy create different social contracts and societal expectations of corporate social responsibility. In recent times, environmental protection and sustainability are the major areas of policing especially in the extractive industry. Mining leads to environmental degradation viz. land, water and air pollution and reduction of arable land for agriculture. There is therefore a need to promote good environmental practices that encourage pursuing environmental sustainability. Balancing the use of natural resources and conservation is one of the major challenges facing businesses today. The Marange diamond mining project is not exceptional and this is evident in the number of complaints raised against the project. This chapter seeks to assess the environmental impact of the mining project and identify gaps during CSR implementation with particular reference to the environment. In this regard, it is imperative to ascertain whether CSR responsibilities placed on the organisation were fulfilled. Thus, comparisons will be made to other similar projects in the Sub-Saharan African region to ascertain their impact on the environment and level of compliance with CSR responsibilities.