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Our approach

We aim to be responsible stewards of the environments in which we operate, the ore bodies entrusted to us by our host communities, and the capital provided to us by our shareholders.

Improving our sustainability performance across all areas is central to maintaining our social licence to operate and enables us to achieve our overarching strategy. We work to ensure that all disciplines and employees across the business view their work through a sustainability lens. By embedding sustainability models across our value chain and through all reporting structures, we are integrating sustainability into our business.

We believe this approach leaves us better equipped to address legacy issues, anticipate and manage current and future risks, and capitalise on opportunities.

Sustainability strategy

AngloGold Ashanti’s current sustainability journey spans well over a decade and continues to transform the company in a manner that seeks to address the evolving global landscape.

Our strategy recognises that we operate in a complex environment and our ability to achieve sustainable outcomes is intertwined with people, politics, the planet and the economy. In response, our strategy is dynamic and adaptive, considering developments in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

As we seek to create value for our shareholders and stakeholders alike, we recognise that this cannot be achieved in isolation, and a collaborative approach is a prerequisite to success.

Stakeholder engagement

Constructive, collaborative and respectful stakeholder relationships build trust and underpin our ability to create value. Engaging with our stakeholders enhances our understanding of our operating environment and the people we work with, and in turn facilitates informed decision making. It is critical at every stage of our business, from exploration through to mine closure.

Policies and standards:

Our Sustainability Strategy Framework

Our efforts are guided by a materiality assessment that determines the key areas of focus. We structure our sustainability investments and interventions to respond proactively to these material issues which are centred on protecting people and communities while building relationships based on dialogue and trust, sound environmental stewardship, and operating a sustainable business.

* While we have focused on certain material issues that represent common themes that internal and external stakeholders are presently concerned with, these may change from year to year. Our strategy and practices encompass a far broader range of issues, over a longer time range and are managed on an ongoing basis.

Materiality

Our sustainability strategy is guided by a rigorous assessment of the issues considered to materially impact our ability to create and share value in the short, medium and long term. The process of interrogating and selecting these material issues is guided by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), SASB, GRI Standards and the Accountability AA1000 Stakeholder Engagement Standard. In 2021, our material issues were identified as follows:

Protecting and developing people and communities

  • Ensuring the safety of our employees and wider mine communities
  • Addressing employee and community health
  • Contributing to resilient, self-sustaining communities
  • Respecting and upholding human rights
  • Integrated talent management
  • Addressing artisanal and small-scale mining

Environmental stewardship

  • Managing our tailings storage facilities
  • Addressing climate change and energy use
  • Managing and conserving water
  • Ensuring integrated closure

Pursuing business sustainability

  • Navigating regulatory and political risks
  • Addressing physical security and cybersecurity
  • Achieving business sustainability and growth

For detailed information on each of these topics, please refer to our 2021 Sustainability Report.

ESG commitments

We subscribe to a number of external principles, charters and standards that reflect our values and commitment to ESG principles – and allow our stakeholders to hold us accountable. Our participation in industry initiatives enables us to inform and influence global standards and practices as well as gain insight into emerging expectations, issues and risks.

AngloGold Ashanti is a member of the ICMM and is committed to the 10 principles, eight position statements and performance expectations that guide member companies on improving their sustainability performance. ICMM member companies report on their sustainability performance publicly every year, and in line with the standards set by the GRI. www.icmm.com

The International Cyanide Management Code (ICMI) for the manufacture, transport, and use of cyanide in the production of gold was developed by a multi-stakeholder steering committee under the guidance of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the then International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME).
www.cyanidecode.org

EITI [logo]

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global initiative which promotes transparent and accountable disclosure and use of revenues from natural resources. AngloGold Ashanti discloses all information in line with country-specific EITI processes and within annual country-level reports.
eiti.org

AngloGold Ashanti uses the WGC Conflict-Free Gold Standard as an important tool to ensure the gold we produce is conflict-free. As a member of the WGC, we support the Responsible Gold Mining Principles and commit to full compliance, assured by an independent third party, by 2022.
www.gold.org

The United Nations SDGs focus efforts to end poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change. We have integrated the SDGs across our business.
www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals

The UNGC is an example of partnerships among businesses, governments, civil society and the United Nations. Its aim is to advance responsible corporate citizenship and universal social and environmental principles to meet the challenges of globalisation.
www.unglobalcompact.org

These are a set of principles designed to guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that encourages respect for human rights. AngloGold Ashanti annually reports on its efforts to implement and promote the VPSHR.
www.voluntaryprinciples.org

Agenda 2063

We aspire to contribute to Agenda 2063, which is aimed at transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future by delivering on a set of seven aspirations, each with its own set of goals.
au.int/en/agenda2063/overview

The World Economic Forum’s Mining and Metals Industry community is a high-level group of peers dedicated to ensuring thought leadership on the long-term sustainability of the industry and its value to society. AngloGold Ashanti seeks to play its role in mitigating the impacts of climate change and integrating ESG considerations in how the industry operates and interacts with its stakeholders.
www.weforum.org/communities/mining-and-metals

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