Dialogue to Action Continued: Day Two at the Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing Summit 2026

The second day of the Summit focused on how responsible sourcing standards, technology, assurance and broader sustainability pressures are evolving across the gold market. A consistent theme was that strong standards are only the starting point: market confidence depends on implementation, transparency, data quality and a willingness to interrogate risk rather than simply document it.

Delegates at the opening session of the day saw Nirali Shah (LBMA) discuss the newly-launched consultation on LBMA’s Responsible Gold Guidance (RGG) version 10, built on solid foundations but facing rising expectations – developed in the spirit of continuous improvement. Nirali detailed how data is becoming an important part of programme oversight, central to which is the Gold Bar Integrity (GBI) initiative, which allows for stronger risk-based oversight and trend analysis for earlier risk identification. Nirali outlined the implementation of the Refiner transparency roadmap, and asserted that transparency shouldn’t be seen as just a Refiner requisite – it needs to be considered across the market as a whole. Responsible sourcing can only be achieved with the active commitment of Refiners, Members, industry partners and International Bullion Centres.

In the following keynote address – Strategic Foresight: Plausible Gold Scenarios and Future Planning – Louis Maréchal (OECD) shared key insights from a forthcoming OECD report, outlining four future gold scenarios. The scenarios cover more liquid and digitised gold markets; gold used more strategically as collateral and a state-controlled financial lever; the growth of nefarious networks using shadow systems to evade sanctions; and a re-materialised monetary system where physical and gold-backed digital assets play a larger role. The scenarios highlight gaps in market understanding and planning, and are intended to support stress testing, policy development and stronger collective action against illicit flows.

Up next, a panel session explored opportunities to strengthen current frameworks and reduce illicit gold activities. Adam Rolfe (RMI), Andrew Britton (Kumi Consulting), Faisal Ahmed (AKW Consultants) and Famke Schapp (Hyacint) highlighted the need for greater auditor competence, consistency and support. Reflecting on 15 years of OECD guidance, the panel agreed that the standards are broadly sound but unevenly implemented. Andrew warned that documentation should be interrogated, not merely accepted at face value, while Faisal agreed that auditors need to move from a checklist to a forensic approach. Recycled or secondary gold, intermediaries, trading hubs and CAHRAs were highlighted as areas requiring stronger checks.

GBI and Technology-Enabled Transparency

The GBI session positioned data as central to programme oversight and market integrity. GBI was described by Vivien Glass (World Gold Council) as a living, tamper-proof system that captures core data across a vetted ecosystem, supporting risk-based oversight, trend analysis and earlier identification of emerging risks. Ed Blight (LBMA) highlighted future priorities including custodian onboarding, integrated assurance provider reporting and adapting to taxonomy changes under RGG10, while Urs Roosli (aXedras) highlighted the role of distributed ledger technology in protecting data confidentiality, security and interoperability.

Traceability, Disclosure and Digital Tools

Session 12 – Tech Talks - Due Diligence and Disclosure – explored how technology can improve traceability, disclosure and assurance across value chains. “Theres more to success than individual excellence,” stated Vijayacitta Harvey (LBMA) when opening the session, intimating the requirement for collective action. Anastasia Kuskova (beSirius) highlighted reusable, evidence-backed assessments against frameworks, while Dr Diana Nöcke (Argor-Heraeus) discussed technology-enabled traceability through interconnected systems and blockchain-supported records. Her egg stamp analogy illustrated how simple, trusted disclosure can provide meaningful information to consumers, regulators and markets.

Illicit Flows and Gold Trafficking

The illicit flows session examined how risks have evolved since early conflict minerals work. Nick Lyon (Tech Against Terrorism) discussed how machine learning tools can estimate ASGM production in high-risk areas. Sophie Pickles (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) described how trade data can reveal inconsistencies, mispricing and smuggling pathways, while Dr. David Soud (I.R. Consilium) highlighted the particular risks posed by gold concentrate. Irene Mia (International Institute for Strategic Studies) called for stronger global governance and coordination, with speakers also stressing the need for harmonised standards, better customs documentation, deeper upstream due diligence and public-private partnerships to address corruption and organised crime.

Keynote and Panel: Mainstreaming Climate and Nature

Nick Bridge (London School of Economics) urged businesses to move beyond compliance and rethink models in response to a destabilised climate system. Nick stated that it’s incredibly hard for even the most committed politician to think long term, systemically and holistically – but “out of every crisis is the place where change happens”.

The following panel explored how we need to ‘mainstream’ climate- and nature-related risks and business plans, and how climate and nature commitments should be professional obligations, not just personal values. John Mulligan (World Gold Council), Sage Lenier (Futureline), Anna Mori (United Nations Global Compact) and Olivier Demierre (MKS PAMP) discussed better measurement, circularity, everyday relevance, traceability, supply-chain action and the growing role of insurance and investment in accelerating climate resilience.

Next, a session on ‘Artisanal & Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) and Responsible Buyers’ welcomed panellists Shari Gittleman (Global Coalition for Action on ASGM), Susan Keane (Natural Resources Defense Council), Larissa Rodrigues (Instituto Escolhas), Telmen Tumenjargal (Bank of Mongolia) and moderator Edward Bickham (World Gold Council). The panel explored practical solutions and insights around trust, proportionate due diligence, and how to ensure a provision for progressive improvement – as well as fair pricing and security for ASGM buyers. 

Finally, in summary, Nirali Shah (LBMA), urged delegates to lean into opportunities they might have previously avoided because of perceived risk. She highlighted how we have more tools available to us than ever before. Necessity drives innovation; that’s why it’s essential to bring technology into the conversation at Summit. Discussions over the last two days have made one thing clear: we are operating in an increasingly complex environment – but we are seeing real progress and real opportunity.