Human rights and the environment must be protected in the scramble to extract minerals used in clean energy technologies, more than 230 civil society organisations from 62 countries have told world leaders attending the United Nation’s COP 27 climate summit in Egypt in a statement published today.
In the North, some mines risk leaking acid if the permafrost melts, while across Canada heavier rainfall will add strain to tailings dams and a lack of it could throw operations.
While no strangers to extreme weather, the growing risks from climate change are forcing the mining industry to take a hard look at their methods, and how to prepare for the worst. Many of the most prudent actions to minimize risk are, however, also more costly, meaning that while some have taken them on, not everyone has followed suit.
"This is a serious and emerging problem," said Jamie Kneen, Canada program co-lead at advocacy group MiningWatch Canada.
MiningWatch Canada sends an urgent request to Barrick Gold to halt forced evictions and carry out independent due diligence on violence and human rights abuses associated with forced evictions at the North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania.
Primary Author: Mitchell Beer
Green economies and global climate action were on the agenda Tuesday when Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland declared a new era in geopolitics brought on by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
When Isabelle Crew chose a lab-grown diamond instead of a traditionally mined sparkler for her engagement ring, one friend warned her it would have a lower resale value.
But with the 1.7-carat oval-shaped diamond solitaire of her dreams twinkling on her finger, the 28-year-old Toronto woman says she found it easy to laugh off those concerns.
"This is an engagement ring. I really hope I don't have to resell it someday," Crew said.
Three years later, Crew — who chose a lab-grown diamond primarily for environmental and social reasons — remains happily married and happy with her ring. And the "resale value" comment notwithstanding, Crew said most people's reactions to her choice have been positive.
Today, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and Indigenous Peoples' Rights International (IPRI), together with over 200 partners released an open letter asking the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and State parties to put human rights at the centre of the energy transition at COP27.
(Ottawa) In September, MiningWatch Canada conducted another human rights investigation at the North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania, owned and operated by Canadian company Barrick Gold. The findings of this investigation are published today in the latest report: “He was murdered”: Violence against Kuria High after Barrick Takeover of Mine.
(Reno, Nevada) Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples from international frontline communities affected by mining, and mining accountability NGOs, will converge in Reno. The purpose of the conference is to share their experiences, to develop a vision for a future with a truly just transition to renewable energy sources, without the need for destructive and disruptive mining. MiningWatch staff and some board members will be attending the WMAN 2022 conference next week. Stay tuned for updates.
Dundee Precious Metals rejects study that says there were 'serious errors' in its Ecuador project
Study said project could put local communities at 'significant risk' and lead to arsenic contamination
By Naimul Karim, Financial Post
B.C.’s mining regulations fall short on tailings dams, cleanup costs and Indigenous consent when comparing with some other jurisdictions
By Francesca Fionda, The Narwhal
Mining is big business in B.C. The industry brought in $9.5 billion in gross mining revenues in 2020, employs more than 11,000 people and the province is home to over 1,200 mineral and exploration companies.
