Our Approach
NOVAGOLD has thus far approached the disclosure of our environment, social, and governance (ESG) performance pragmatically as a development-stage company, disclosing benchmarks the company believes are the most relevant measurements of our performance.
"The Kuskokwim Corporation has been involved every step of the way in not only inviting Donlin Gold LLC onto our land, but also in writing the permits, in environmental oversight, and really ensuring that this is the best possible project on our land to provide those opportunities for our shareholders. So we have been very focused on this partnership between Donlin Gold LLC and its partners, Barrick and NOVAGOLD, Calista Corporation and The Kuskokwim Corporation. We’re all working very closely hand-in-hand."
Andrea Gusty
President and CEO
The Kuskokwim Corporation
The completion of federal permitting of the Donlin Gold project in 2018 marked a development milestone that has led to the next phase in the evolution of NOVAGOLD’s ESG reporting against a backdrop of increasing interest from all stakeholders. The time is appropriate to increase transparency, accountability, and enhance the suite of ESG metrics the company discloses to stakeholders. We’re committed to providing stage-appropriate and relevant information about ESG performance in alignment with the Donlin Gold project partner Barrick for all stakeholders. NOVAGOLD is working with Barrick to implement international best practice and industry standards at Donlin Gold and plans to expand disclosure as the project eventually moves toward construction and into operation.
We are strong proponents of ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders through the entire development process. Our commitment to enhancing and improving social capital in the communities of the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) region has been integral to the Donlin Gold project from the outset. Additional training, hiring, and bidders’ preference included in the life-of-mine agreements with our Native Corporation partners, Calista Corporation and The Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC), date back to the mid-1990s and provide economic benefits to the Native Corporations and their Shareholders.
As a development-stage mining company whose primary asset is its 50 percent interest in the Donlin Gold project in southwestern Alaska, we have taken a long-term approach to developing, implementing, and reporting on our sustainability practices and measurements. Our focus has been on conveying information and data on our efforts working with our Alaska Native Corporation partners to protect the environment and invest in the indigenous communities and businesses of western Alaska. Specifically, our commitment to the peoples of the Y-K region has been integral to the Donlin Gold project plans going back more than two decades. These commitments are reflected in the life-of-mine agreements we have with Calista and TKC.
Under the provisions of ANCSA, which resolved land claims and allotted 44 million acres of land for use by Alaska Native Corporations, the benefits of building the Donlin Gold project will be shared with all of them and their shareholders throughout the State of Alaska.
In 2021, NOVAGOLD continued and expanded upon its ESG data collection. This data is included at the end of this report. During 2021, NOVAGOLD also solicited feedback from outside parties and others to formally assess ESG performance and reporting. We specifically conducted a materiality and risk assessment with the assistance of a global ESG consulting firm who surveyed opinions and suggestions from internal and external stakeholders regarding sustainability practices at the Donlin Gold project. This information, which has been provided to the NOVAGOLD board of directors, is being analyzed and used to make enhancements to our ESG strategy in areas that include climate change, biodiversity, diversity, and vendor relationships, among others. This information has also provided valuable input for our current and future Donlin Gold project development activities.
NOVAGOLD welcomes comments, questions, or suggestions about this report and related information. Please send your feedback to info@novagold.com.. Additional information and details about goal-setting methodology, practices, and measurement can be found in the 2022 Management Information Circular dated March 25, 2022 and available on www.sec.gov, sedar.com, and https://www.novagold.com/investors/mic/.