Mines and Environment’s Post

There is something truly special about the connection we have with the land. It's a relationship that goes beyond occupation; it's about stewardship, respect, and giving back. In the realm of mining, this connection takes on a unique significance. As we delve into the earth's riches, we are also tasked with the responsibility of safeguarding its ecological balance and honouring the social fabric woven into its landscapes. I am deeply humbled and proud to be part of an industry that understands the intricate dance between progress and preservation. With careful consideration of the ecology, environmental impact, and social aspects, we navigate the delicate path of sustainable development. As we deepen our dialogues and gather on the Mines and Environment Event platforms, I am reminded of the profound privilege we share in engaging in meaningful discussions about the land, water, people, and economy. These are not just topics of interest; they are the cornerstones of our shared future. Together, we embark on a journey of innovation, collaboration, and responsible growth. Subscribe and remain updated. We are preparing our 2025 Mine Closure Conference and future breakfasts, roundtables, workshops and seminars this year. If you are in the Mining and Environmental space, we look forward to sharing your company in the near future. Click here for more https://lnkd.in/gAwYvPQX #mining #mineclosure# #environment #wamining #hydreology #geoscience

Collaboration is the key to success! 🌱 We're proud to partner with Ecogain, whose dedication and expertise are driving impactful results. #Waste2Place #GeomorphicDesign #Geomorphic #Mining #Sustainability #Closure #Reclamation #Biodiversity #EcologicalRecovery #ResearchProject #MiningIndustry #NormCritical #Innovation #MiningInnovation

Jan Bondaruk, Deputy Director for Environmental Protection (GIG) in dialogue with Prof. Maria Loizidou (National Technical University of Athens) emphasizing the importance of the follow-up on the LIFE BRINE MINING project to address the environmental impacts of coal mining activities, they stressed the need to consider all aspects involved - socioeconomic, political, industrial, and environmental. Both highlighted the necessity of cooperation between science and industry to develop sustainable solutions. LIFE Programme | CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency | UNIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (UEST) - NTUA Partners: Polish Central Mining Institute - National Research Institute (Główny Instytut Górnictwa - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy), Lenntech Water Treatment Solutions (The Netherlands), National Technical University of Athens (Greece), The Silesian University of Technology (Poland), NEVIS Novel Environmental Solutions S.A. (Greece), SEALEAU B.V. (The Netherlands), Polska Grupa Górnicza S.A (Poland), THERMOSSOL STEAMBOILERS SA (Greece), Dimitris Malamis Konstantinos Moustakas Lida Ampatzi Stavroula Klempetsani Anna Skalny Maria Loizidou Grzegorz Gzyl Christina Xenogianni Maria Kyriazi Dionysia Diamantidou DIMITRIOS XENOGIANNIS Elias Demian Kalliroi Panteleaki Niels van Linden Beata Kończak David van Lennep Hans Ulco de Boer Allard Rodenburg #environmental #project #innovation #mining #brine #desalination #nanofiltration #electrolysis #osmosis #water #LIFEamplifiers

Extractive industries threaten water, glaciers, and livelihoods, but new research offers hope. Visiting researcher Scott Odell is working with Architecture's John Fernández on a project that is examining the converging impacts of climate change, mining, and agriculture in Chile. Fernandez is also the director of MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative. #mit #climatechange #mining #agriculture #environment https://lnkd.in/gD3NketW

🌊 Deep-Sea Mining: A Biodiversity Risk That Financiers Can Avoid 🌍 The Deep Sea Mining Campaign released a briefing paper for financiers at COP, highlighting the biodiversity risks posed by deep-sea mining (DSM) and the potential impacts of investing in this controversial sector. The COP agenda underscores the critical role of finance in protecting nature, with the 2022 framework calling for $700 billion per year for nature protection and restoration. While integrating private finance into nature-based solutions sparks debate, one clear path for financiers and insurers is to avoid sectors with the greatest biodiversity risks. Deep-sea mining stands out as an avoidable risk. 💔 Irreversible Biodiversity Loss: DSM could cause damage on multi-generational timescales, with far-reaching consequences for ocean ecosystems, planetary health, and humanity. ❓ Knowledge Gaps: Decades of research would be needed to fully understand the risks, yet proponents argue for rapid expansion to meet mineral demands – a claim debunked by the European Academies Science Advisory Council. 🌊 Sustainable Blue Economy Incompatibility: The UN Environment Programme FI has stated that DSM financing cannot align with the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles. The good news? Financial exposure to DSM is still limited, making it easy for institutions to exclude it from their portfolios. So far, 15 leading financial institutions have explicitly ruled out DSM, and many more have signed the ‘Business statement supporting a moratorium on deep-sea mining.’ 🚫 The choice is clear: Deep-sea mining is an unnecessary threat to ocean biodiversity. Responsible financiers can take a stand now, safeguarding our oceans for generations to come. 📖 Learn more in our new briefing: https://bit.ly/3ZdgZnu #Biodiversity #FinanceForNature #DeepSeaMining #SustainableFinance #COP #OceanConservation #NatureProtection

A couple of weeks ago I joined a stellar panel at the European Parliament to discuss how Ecocide Law can help save the ocean. For those that missed it, the recording is here: https://lnkd.in/eFFrgWzP In other deep-sea news, a recent study reveals that magnetotactic microbes in the deep-sea (microbes containing little magnets that act like compass needles) could be fostering the growth of the nodules speculative miners want to rip off the seafloor. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ef-gwBxF From producing oxygen to providing essential habitat, these nodules keep proving more and more valuable staying on the seafloor than lining the pockets of a greedy few. Polymetallic nodules have taken millions of years to form and are not a renewable resource. Time to abandon the absurd idea that trashing the deep sea for minerals is somehow good for the planet. Thanks again to Seas At Risk, Gallifrey Foundation & Stop Ecocide International for the opportunity to make clear that deep-sea mining, if allowed to go ahead, is ecocide. Let’s make sure those in power listen! Check links in comments for how you and your company / organisation / institution can add your voice to the global movement calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. 💪🏽💙 🌊 #theoceanandus #ecocidelaw #energytransition The Ocean and Us, Isabella Lövin, Emma Fourreau, Sue Miller, Matthew Gianni, Simon Holmström

We're deeply disappointed in this decision. After thousands of you wrote to Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, backing our request for an impact assessment to be done on one of the biggest proposed thermal #coal mines in Canadian history, this is the result. For context, an impact assessment is a normal procedure for projects even a fraction of the size of #Vista. The process is meant to unearth and record expected impacts of projects, especially impacts on #endangeredspecies the government has a duty to project. In this case, one such species is the Athabasca Rainbow Trout, whose critical habitat lies squarely in the Vista mine expansion's path. #Coalspur (the the company behind Vista) has avoided an impact assessment for more than a decade now. With this decision, the government is allowing it to slip through the cracks yet another time. Read more here 👉https://hubs.ly/Q02_1S_L0

Lithium- continued Maybe the environmental brigade who leap into their EV should consider the Environmental damage for the mining and eventual disposal of EV batteries cause - add to that the electric generation, fires safety etc. let’s see the evaluation in reality And it’s not EVs it’s lithium in every mode ie small batteries, small tech devices , vapes etc https://lnkd.in/eZ2b7jhZ https://lnkd.in/eW9ME_dC The battle for lithium: US and China fight over Argentina’s white gold President Javier Milei is making the most of the global competition to ensure access to a mineral that is critical to making batteries for energy storage and EVs. Residents of boom towns wonder how long it will last https://lnkd.in/eVbWvj9h The extraction process, mainly through brine mining, poses significant risks, including water pollution and depletion, biodiversity loss, and carbon emissions. Every tonne of mined lithium results in 15 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the environment. In addition, it is estimated that about 500,000 litres of water are needed to mine approximately 2.2 million litres per tonne of lithium. https://lnkd.in/eXZUqxYh Article 2021 A DEAD BATTERY DILEMMA With millions of electric vehicles set to hit the road, scientists are seeking better battery recycling methods https://lnkd.in/e2Rqw7jv Small, light, and often concealed in handheld electronics and other devices not much bigger or heavier than itself, it isn’t much to look at. But for waste management providers, the ability to process it plays a critical role in maintaining an effective waste disposal service.

In 2001, there was a Commission of Inquiry into longwall coal mining under Sydney's drinking water catchment. Plenty of people warned at the time that this would be the result if longwalling went ahead, but the Dendrobium mine, and others, were approved anyway. Now we reap the consequences in broken creeks, collapsed swamps and increased risk of bushfire. Prof Glamore says, “Previously there was always debate about the impacts and the debate never progressed because of the lack of science." But the debate *was* progressed: the mines were approved with the "strict conditions" cited by the Minerals Council in this story, and requirements to "offset" the loss of endangered swamps that are special in large part precisely because of where they are, and their irreplaceable function in filtering, holding and releasing Sydney's drinking water. This was supposed to be what the precautionary principle was for: "Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation." But measures to prevent environmental degradation are still being postponed while the coal mining industry takes water, clears habitat and fuels catastrophic climate change. I think often about the articles like this that are going to be written in 20 years time, about climate change, about wildlife extinction, about how we let the coal mining industry postpone, obstruct and sow confusion, how politicians and public servants bowed to their destructive demands. https://lnkd.in/gcsK69gQ

Lithium is a key material used in EV and other rechargeable batteries. This begs a lot of questions about “sustainability for who?” in the clean energy transition so widely talked about/that is rapidly growing in the global north.