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The document emphasizes that environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs) are critical for determining project conditions and ensuring benefits for affected communities. It argues that project approvals should depend on general community support, or a 'social licence to operate', to prevent conflicts such as protests and roadblocks. Drawing on the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development’s (IGF) 2020 guidance, the report provides case studies of legal frameworks that cover a mine's entire life cycle to help other jurisdictions improve their ESIA processes.

The document outlines a framework for a Just Transition (TJ) in Colombia, emphasizing the need to manage the shift toward a low-carbon economy without exacerbating existing social inequalities. It identifies the mining and fossil fuel sectors as the most vulnerable due to their significant contribution to exports and employment. The guide recommends strengthening governance through a dedicated TJ Committee, improving social dialogue, reforming the labor market to address high informality, and diversifying regional economies. It also highlights the necessity of mobilizing financial resources to close the funding gap for Colombia's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

The document outlines a strategy for Colombia to manage its transition to a low-carbon economy while addressing high levels of poverty, inequality, and labor informality. It identifies the mining and fossil fuel sectors as the most vulnerable, representing 71% of exports and 500,000 formal jobs. The toolkit recommends establishing a Just Transition Committee within the Intersectoral Commission for Climate Change, enhancing social dialogue, and reforming the labor market to support workers' mobility and reskilling. It emphasizes the need for economic diversification in fossil-fuel-dependent regions and the mobilization of financial resources to close a funding gap estimated at 1.04% of GDP annually to meet NDC objectives.

This fact sheet advocates for the integration of gender justice into community forest management (CFM). It highlights that women perform critical but often invisible tasks in caring for forests and biodiversity, and that they face systemic exclusion from decision-making and land ownership. The document asserts that recognizing women's traditional knowledge and rights is vital for effective CFM and the overall well-being of ecosystems and communities.

Friends of the Earth International argues that the neoliberal system drives ecological crises and fuels violence against marginalized communities. The organization advocates for a shift from individual human rights frameworks toward the recognition of collective 'rights of peoples' to protect land, water, and ancestral practices. It defines 'territory' as a socially constructed space—including the human body—and positions the defense of these territories and their defenders as a prerequisite for systemic transformation toward sustainable societies.

Friends of the Earth International argues that the neoliberal capitalist system drives multiple ecological and social crises, leading to the systemic violation of the collective rights of marginalized communities. The organization advocates for a shift from individual human rights frameworks to 'Rights of Peoples' to protect indigenous, Afro-descendant, and peasant communities. It defines 'territory' as a socially constructed space encompassing spiritual, cultural, and physical relationships, including the human body, and positions the defense of these territories and their defenders as essential for achieving a transformative system change toward sustainable societies.

The IISD provides free technical assistance and training to developing countries to help them design investment laws and policies that support sustainable development. Their services cover the entire investment lifecycle, from promotion and protection to dispute resolution, and include support for reforming investment treaties and aligning national policies with international best practices.

The report identifies ten key components of a strong ESIA legal framework and evaluates their application in three jurisdictions. California is highlighted for its rigorous environmental review and climate change integration, Kazakhstan for its recent legislative updates aligned with EU standards, and Queensland for its comprehensive framework and use of internal audits to address rehabilitation liabilities and corruption risks.

The document outlines best practices for integrating public engagement into the entire mine life cycle, from exploration to closure. It emphasizes the use of grievance mechanisms, multistakeholder oversight, and participatory monitoring to build trust. It specifically highlights the necessity of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples, providing case studies from British Columbia, Canada, and Peru to illustrate the implementation of consent-based decision-making and community-led environmental monitoring.

The 2023 Mining Policy Framework (MPF) provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for governments to manage the full mining life cycle. It is organized into six pillars: laws, policies, and institutions; financial benefits; socio-economic benefits; environmental management; post-mining transition; and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The framework emphasizes the need for transparent fiscal regimes, inclusive community engagement, rigorous environmental protections—including climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas emission reductions—and the formalization of the ASM sector to improve livelihoods and safety.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides pro bono technical advice, training, and workshops to developing countries to ensure foreign investment contributes to fair and sustainable development. Their expertise covers the entire investment life cycle—from promotion and facilitation to dispute resolution—and spans sectors such as energy, mining, and agriculture. IISD supports government officials in reforming investment treaties, aligning national instruments with international best practices, and navigating global investment governance forums like UNCTAD, WTO, and OECD. While services are generally pro bono, priority for funding is given to least developed countries.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides free technical advice, seminars, and training to developing countries to ensure foreign investments support equitable and sustainable development. Their expertise covers the entire investment lifecycle—from promotion and facilitation to dispute resolution—with a focus on reforming investment treaties, aligning national instruments with modern practices, and strengthening governance coordination. IISD operates across sectors including energy, mining, and agriculture, and supports government officials in navigating multilateral forums such as UNCTAD, the WTO, and the AfCFTA.

The document examines the anti-corruption potential of the Escazú Agreement in Colombia, arguing that its pillars of transparency, public participation, and justice can mitigate the abuse of power for private gain. It details WWF Colombia's work evaluating Decrees 1384 and 1396 (which implement Law 70 of 1993 regarding Afro-Colombian land and resource rights) against these pillars. The research found a pattern of inadequate access to environmental information, leading to recommendations for reforms such as establishing an environmental function within the National Ombudsman's office and improving prior consultation methodologies for ethnic communities.

The report details how the Kaunisvaara mine, operated by Northland Resources and later Kaunis Iron, has caused extensive land loss, disrupted reindeer migration and health, and induced psychological stress for the Muonio reindeer herding district. It highlights a significant gap between the 'moderate' impacts predicted during licensing and the actual severe consequences, noting that the district has received no financial compensation since 2012. The study also examines the systemic failure of Swedish legislation to protect Sámi rights, leaving the district marginalized in decision-making and forced into unsuccessful negotiations with mining companies.

The report documents the extensive and lasting impacts of the Boliden mine (operated 1976–1988) and the resulting road infrastructure on the Voernese sameby. Key findings highlight significant pasture loss, increased costs and workload for herders due to tourism and traffic, and the marginalization of Sámi knowledge in decision-making processes. The study argues that the state's failure to protect Sámi rights allows colonial exploitation of resources to persist, as evidenced by inadequate compensation and the ongoing pressure from new mining proposals by Vilhelmina Mineral.

The Seal River Watershed in northern Manitoba is a 50,000 km2 area that is 99.97% intact and serves as one of Canada's largest free-flowing drainage basins. The report highlights its critical role in biodiversity, storing 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon and supporting species at risk such as polar bears and barren-ground caribou. Economically, the watershed provides at least CAD 214 million in annual ecosystem goods and services (EGS), including ecotourism and caribou harvesting, while the stored carbon is valued at CAD 314.5 billion. The document advocates for the creation of an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) led by the Sayisi Dene, Northlands Denesuline, Barren Lands First Nation, and O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation to prevent threats from mining, hydroelectricity, and road development. It suggests the Manitoba government implement interim protections, establish a feasibility committee, and provide technical support for Indigenous Guardians programs.

The briefing advocates for SADC member states to move from reactive to anticipatory governance to better navigate uncertainties like climate change and digitisation. It identifies five strategic opportunities: reskilling for the green economy and 4IR, fostering regional innovation ecosystems to leapfrog legacy industries, implementing open-data policies and improving internet infrastructure, developing green economy clusters for mineral value-addition, and repositioning the mining sector toward circular or bio-economy models.

The report identifies a significant gap between the availability of gender analysis tools and their actual implementation by governments and mining companies. It categorizes approaches into gender analysis within environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs), stand-alone gender impact assessments (GIAs), and integration into human rights due diligence. The author argues that strong regulatory frameworks, such as those in Canada, are essential to mandate these analyses. Case studies from Canada, Zambia, and Indonesia illustrate how multistakeholder partnerships and intersectional lenses can improve outcomes, though implementation remains inconsistent.

In 2025, Global Witness verified the killings of 124 land and environmental defenders, continuing a trend of lethal violence primarily concentrated in Latin America. The report identifies land disputes and extractive projects as primary drivers, with a significant increase in the role of organized crime and hitmen. It highlights the vulnerability of Indigenous peoples and small-scale farmers, who comprise 75% of the victims. The document argues against individual-focused security models, instead promoting 'collective protection'—community-led systems like Indigenous Guards—and calls for the ratification of the Escazú Agreement and the repeal of laws used to criminalize activism.

Global Witness reports that 1,733 land and environmental defenders were killed between 2012 and 2021, with 200 deaths recorded in 2021 alone. The report highlights a disproportionate impact on indigenous peoples, who represent over 40% of fatal attacks despite being only 5% of the global population. Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia are identified as the most dangerous countries, where extractivism, land inequality, and corporate impunity drive violence. The document calls for the implementation of the Escazú Agreement and stricter mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence for companies, particularly within the European Union.