NOVAGOLD RELEASES 2024 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT Providing a thorough overview of NOVAGOLD’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, highlighting strong health and safety record, ongoing commitment to environmental
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NOVAGOLD RELEASES 2024 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Providing a thorough overview of NOVAGOLD’s environmental, social and governance (ESG)
performance, highlighting strong health and safety record, ongoing commitment to environmental
responsibility, ongoing community investments, extensive stakeholder interactions, and sound
corporate governance.
Emphasizing NOVAGOLD’s investments in Donlin Gold LLC (“Donlin Gold”) and its stakeholders,
focusing on community engagement and responsiveness to local priorities.
Aligning with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
and Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) in this year’s Sustainability Report, and
continued alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework.
June 16, 202 5 – Vancouver, British Columbia – NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (“NOVAGOLD” or the
“Company”) (NYSE American, TSX: NG) is pleased to announce the publication of its 2024 Sustainability
Report which provides an overview of the Company’s performance in the areas of environmental
responsibility, health and safety, social engagement, and corporate governance in alignment with GRI
standards and the recommendations of the TCFD and the TNFD.
“As we look toward the future, I am confident in our continued progress ”, said Greg Lang, NOVAGOLD’s
President and CEO . “At NOVAGOLD, our ESG practices will evolve as we deepen our commitment to the
people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim region and advance sustainable development. Central to our approach is
close collaboration with local communities, drawing on their knowledge to minimize environmental impacts,
foster economic activity, and responsibly develop Donlin Gold. We firmly believe that responsible mining is
about more than sound resource extraction, it’s about leaving a positive legacy in the communities we work
with and safeguarding the environment.”
Highlights of NOVAGOLD’s 2024 Sustainability Report
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As a development -stage mining company, NOVAGOLD remains focused on advancing the Donlin Gold
project with a long-term perspective. Central to these efforts is our collaboration with the project’s Alaska
Native Corporation landowners, to deliver lasting economic and social benefits to the Yukon -Kuskokwim
(Y-K) region through responsible development of the Donlin Gold project.
Transparency is central to NOVAGOLD’s approach, ensuring clear and honest communication of
sustainability priorities and ESG performance. Since 2020, the Company’s annual sustainability reports have
reflected a commitment to responsible governance, highlighting key environmental, health and safety,
social engagement, governance, and economic performance metrics.
The 2024 Sustainability Report is available on NOVAGOLD’s website here.
About NOVAGOLD
NOVAGOLD is a well-financed precious metals company focused on the development of the Donlin Gold
project in Alaska, one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world1. With approximately 39 million ounces
of gold in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories, inclusive of Proven and
Probable Mineral Reserves (541 million tonnes at an average grade of approximately 2.24 grams per tonne,
in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories on a 100% basis) 2, the Donlin Gold project
is regarded to be one of the largest, highest-grade, and most prospective known open-pit gold deposits in
the world. According to the 2021 Technical Report and the S -K 1300 Technical Report Summary once in
production, the Donlin G old project is expected to produce an average of more than one million ounces
per year over a 27-year mine life on a 100% basis.
NOVAGOLD Contacts:
Mélanie Hennessey
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Frank Gagnon
Manager, Investor Relations
604-669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227
www.novagold.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This media release includes certain “forward -looking information” and “forward -looking statements” (collectively “forward -looking statements”) within the
meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigatio n Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking statements are
frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”, “continue”, “ongoing”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “potential”, “possible”,
and similar expressions, or statemen ts that events, conditions, or results “will”, “may”, “could”, “would” or “should” occur or be achieved. Forward-looking
statements contained in this media release are based on a number of material assumptions, including but not limited to the fo llowing, which could prove to
1 Per Mining Journal intelligence – World Risk Report 2024 Alaska received an AA rating, ranks number 13th globally on the Investment Risk index.
2 Donlin Gold data as per the report titled “NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Donlin Gold project, Alaska, USA” (the “2021 Technical Report”), with an effective date of June 1,
2021 and the report titled “S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary on the Donlin Gold project, Alaska, USA” (the “S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary”), dated November 30,
2021. Donlin Gold possesses Measured Resources of approximately 8 Mt grading 2.52 g/t and Indicated Resources of approximately 534 Mt grading 2.24 g/t, each on a 100%
basis and inclusive of Mineral Reserves, of which approximately 5 Mt of Measured Resources and approximately 320 Mt of Indicated Resources inclusive of Reserves is
currently attributable to NOVAGOLD through its 60% ownership interest in Donlin Gold LLC. Exclusive of Mineral Reserves, Donlin Gold possesses Measured Resources of
approximately 0.9 Mt grading 2.23 g/t and Indicated Resources of approximately 69 Mt grading 2.44 g/t, of which approximately 0.5 Mt of Measured Resources and
approximately 42 Mt of Indicated Resources of approximately 69 Mt grading 2.44 g/t, of which approximately 0.5 Mt of Measured Resources and approximately 42 Mt of
Indicated Resources exclusive of Mineral Reserves is currently attributable to NOVAGOLD. Donlin Gold possesses Proven Reserves of approximately 8 Mt grading 2.32 g/t and
Probable Reserves of approximately 497 Mt grading 2.08 g/t, each on a 100% basis, of which approximately 5 Mt of Proven Reserves and approximately 298 Mt of Probable
Reserves is attributable to NOVAGOLD. Mineral Reserves and Resources have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101 and S-K 1300.
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be significantly incorrect: our ability to achieve production at any of our mineral exploration and development properties; e stimated capital costs, operating
costs, production and economic returns; estimated metal pricing, metallurgy, mineability, marketa bility and operating and capital costs, together with other
assumptions underlying our resource and reserve estimates; our expected ability to develop adequate infrastructure and that t he cost of doing so will be
reasonable; assumptions that all necessary permits and governmental approvals will be obtained and the timing of such approvals; assumptions made in the
interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of our mineral deposits; our expectations regarding demand for equipment, skilled labor and
services needed for exploration and development of mineral properties; our ability to improve our ESG initiatives and goals; and that our activities will not
be adversely disrupted or impeded by development, operating or regulatory risks. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on several opinions,
estimates and assumptions that management of NOVAGOLD considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements ar e made, are subject
to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, as sumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, activity, performance, or achievements to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward -looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included
herein are forward -looking statements. These forward -looking statements include statements regarding the anticipated timing of certain judicial and/or
administrative decisions; plans for and the estimated timing of a new feasibility study on the Donlin Gold project; our goals and planned activities for 2025;
ongoing support provided to key stakeholders including Native Corporation landowners; Donlin Gold’s continued support for the state and federal permitting
process; sufficiency of working capita l; the potential development and construction of the Donlin Gold project; the timing and ability for the Donlin Gold
project to hit critical milestones; the ability for the Donlin Gold project to hit the anticipated projections; the sufficiency of funds to continue to advance
development of Donlin Gold, including to a construction decision; perceived merit of properties; mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; Donlin Gold’s
ability to secure the permits needed to construct and operate the Donlin Gol d project in a timely manner, if at all; legal challenges to Donlin Gold’s existing
permits and the timing of decisions in those challenges; plans to continue to advance the Donlin Gold project safely, socially responsibly and to sustainably
generate value for stakeholders; continued cooperation between the owners of Donlin Gold LLC to advance the project; NOVAGOLD’s ability to deliver on its
strategy with the Donlin Gold project, increasing shareholder and stakeholder wealth; the success of the strategic m ine plan for the Donlin Gold project; the
success of the Donlin Gold community relations plan; the anticipated outcome of exploration drilling at the Donlin Gold project and the timing thereof; the
completion of test work and modeling and the timing thereof ; and implementation of NOVAGOLDʼs ESG policies, studies, programs, initiatives and goals. In
addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or c ircumstances are forward -looking
statements. Forward -looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent the expectations of NOVAGOLD management’s estimates and
projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from expectations include the need to obtain additional permits and governmental approvals; the timing and likelihood of obtaining and maintaining permits
necessary to construct and operate; the need for addition al financing to complete an updated feasibility study and to explore and develop properties ;
availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; disease pandemics; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drill results and geological tests
and the estimation of reserves and resources; changes in mineral production performance, explo itation and exploration successes; changes in national and
local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of l aws, policies and practices, expropriation or
nationalization of property and political or economic developments in the United States or Canada; the need for continued coo peration between the owners
of Donlin Gold LLC to advance the project ; the need for cooperation of government agencies and Native groups in the development and operation of
properties; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, disease pandemics , non -compliance with
environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, ore grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could
include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency excha nge rates; whether or when a positive
construction decision will be made regarding the Donlin Gold project; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in NOVAGOLD ’s most recent reports on
Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly the “Risk Factors” sections of those reports and other documents filed by NOVAGOLD with applicable securities regulatory
authorities from time to time. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting NOVAGOLD’s website at www.novagold.com, or the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov, or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward -looking statements contained herein reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of
NOVAGOLD on the date the statements are made. NOVAGOLD assumes no obligation to update the forward -looking statements of beliefs, opinions,
projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.