Sustainability' is one of those words that has gained more usage in popular discourse than in the dictionary. In fact it is not in many dictionaries at all. Typically, given this, it also seems to mean different things depending on whose lips it emerges from. It is now like a code word in that if people say it, you don't have to think about its meaning; it is just there' and is taken for granted. This is a problem for the mining industry as we are now using the term too and to be effective in what we do, we need to have a reality check and see how those outside who have views on us (stakeholders' maybe) use it. The core issue seems to be sustainability of what': the industry?, a company?, the global environment?, particular ecosystems?, the community? At these levels, the term seems almost meaningless. If we do not even agree on what it is, at least broadly, our communication and possible partnerships for going forward will be difficult to say the least. One reference to sustain' in my thesaurus is: To keep from failing during stress or difficulty'. This may be a clue to something approaching a common notion. I suggest that to use sustainability' we make the following assumptions:that we are talking about human activity aimed at making a living that has an impact on the natural and social environment;that humans must make a living (though what this needs to include is problematic);that the impact of particular activities has been problematic to date and needs to be monitored, altered, stopped, etc;that there is stress on both social and natural environments; andthat change can be effected in order that particular activities such as mining minimise their negative effects and maximise their positive. This is why we are taking part in sessions such as this one today.Two more initial observations: First, it strikes me that even with the above assumptions laid out, sustainability' and sustainable development' are too abstract and general as concepts. We have to break these high and mighty ideals down into workable, bite-size chunks, into practical ways of dealing with the world outside our sites and companies. Second, sustainability, on both sides of the fence, too often focuses on nature and environment as though they are independent of people and community. I would argue, perhaps provocatively, that sustainability is primarily a people issue and has to be tackled as such. I want to look at the overall climate for business today and how it has responded before I return to what we can and need to do as the mining industry to make sustainability'work.