Search Climate Insights Directory

This case study examines how Chile, Indonesia, and South Africa are decarbonizing their mining sectors to align with the Paris Agreement while continuing to supply critical minerals for the global energy transition.

This briefing by Ember provides recommendations to Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry for the country's Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC), specifically focusing on the reporting and mitigation of coal mine methane (CMM) emissions.

This scoping study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the mining sector's role in the global energy transition, focusing on its contribution to nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and the challenges of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in mineral-rich developing countries.

The Biocultural Community Protocol (PCB) of Niafrang, Senegal, is a community-led guide designed to protect the village's natural resources, traditional knowledge, and genetic heritage. It establishes governance principles for the sustainable use of biodiversity and serves as a tool for advocacy against zircon mining and land grabbing, while harmonizing customary laws with national and international legal frameworks.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) promotes the use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the mining sector to enhance sustainable development. It distinguishes SEA from project-level Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), highlighting how SEA integrates environmental, social, and economic considerations into high-level plans, policies, and programs (PPPs). Through international case studies, the document outlines the benefits of SEA for governments, companies, and communities, identifies common implementation obstacles, and provides recommendations for integrating SEA into national and regional mining planning, particularly for critical minerals.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued a statement of solidarity with peaceful protesters in Panama who are opposing metallic mining and a specific open-pit copper mine concession. CIEL condemns the use of force against demonstrators and journalists, calls for the protection of human rights, and urges the Panamanian government to postpone public forums regarding the Fourth Electric Transmission Line project due to ongoing public disorder.

The Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the proposed EU Critical Raw Materials Act risks exacerbating human rights breaches and 'green colonialism' against the Indigenous Sámi people in Northern Europe. While welcoming the inclusion of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for 'strategic' projects, the authors identify critical weaknesses in the act's reliance on Member State bureaucracies, certification schemes, and the lack of resources for Indigenous participation. They propose three amendments: an EU-level oversight mechanism for grievances, mandatory FPIC standards for certification schemes, and a funding mechanism to support affected rights-holders during fast-tracked licensing processes.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a framework for governments to implement the 'restitution' of closed mine sites. Restitution is defined as the legal transfer of responsibility from the mine operator to a subsequent landowner after closure activities are completed and approved. The document identifies systemic gaps in global policies, where sites often remain indefinitely with operators or are transferred without adequate funding for long-term monitoring. It proposes a six-step policy process: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, establishing residual risk management plans, creating funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring.

An open letter from a coalition of movements, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society organizations urging the European Union to implement strict human rights, environmental, and governance safeguards within the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) to prevent the exploitation of resource-rich countries in the Global South during the energy transition.

This executive summary evaluates the legal and policy framework for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) in Madagascar's mining sector. While the framework is described as generally coherent and up-to-date, the document identifies critical gaps—including broad stabilization clauses and the potential for operating permits to precede environmental permits—and provides recommendations to align the system with international best practices from the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF).

The Stakeholder Toolkit, updated in March 2023 by the Forest Declaration Assessment, provides a curated directory of frameworks, standards, and organizations designed to help stakeholders in the agricultural supply chain, mining, and infrastructure sectors align their operations with forest-positive goals and sustainability standards.

This meeting report describes a remote training workshop held on November 23–24, 2022, by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) for members of Women in Mining of West Africa (WIMOWA). The workshop focused on gender equality and local content in the mining sector, specifically addressing women's participation in direct employment and local procurement.

This community audit, published by Natural Justice in February 2023, documents the environmental and social impacts of bauxite mining operations by the Société Minière de Boké (SMB) in the Boké region of Guinea. Based on consultations across 24 villages, the report identifies systemic violations of rights to a healthy environment, land ownership, water access, and health, while calling for a Livelihoods Restoration Plan and the abandonment of a proposed coal-fired power plant.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development emphasizes the role of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) in managing mining projects, specifically focusing on the necessity of community consultation and engagement to avoid conflict and secure a social licence to operate.

This document consists of annexes to the 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment, detailing sustainability schemes in the mining sector, sources and estimates of forest-related finance, and the implementation of green budgeting and risk assessment tools in the public sector.

This document consists of three annexes to the 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment. It details sustainability schemes in the mining sector, provides estimates for green and 'gray' forest finance, and discusses the implementation of green budgeting and risk assessment tools in the public sector.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) legal frameworks in mining, focusing on California (USA), Kazakhstan, and Queensland (Australia). It identifies ten key components of a strong ESIA framework and analyzes how these three jurisdictions implement and improve their respective systems to meet sustainability goals.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of consultation and engagement within Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) for large-scale mining. It provides a framework for integrating stakeholder dialogue across the mine life cycle—from exploration to closure—and highlights specific legal mechanisms such as grievance processes, participatory monitoring, and the pursuit of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples. The document includes case studies from British Columbia, Canada, and Peru to illustrate the practical application of these frameworks.

This research paper examines the impacts of the Kaunisvaara mine on the Muonio reindeer herding district, detailing how the operation has led to significant land loss, economic decline, and psychological stress for the Sámi community, while highlighting the failure of the Swedish legal system to protect indigenous rights.

This research paper examines the long-term impacts of the Boliden mine (operated 1976–1988) and its associated road on the Vilhelmina Södra reindeer herding district at Stihken. The study highlights a significant gap between state-predicted disturbance zones and the actual experiences of the herders, noting extensive land loss, disrupted migration routes, and ongoing disturbances from tourism. It argues that the state's failure to protect Sámi rights and the persistence of colonial exploitation patterns continue to affect the community, particularly regarding the potential for new mining projects in the area.