Climate-Smart Mining: Basics of Climate Change & Local Impacts

Over the past few months, we began to build capacity by exploring topics such as free, prior, and informed consent; environmental and social impact assessments; and community development agreements (CDAs). This month's session explores another critical mining- related issue that portends grave consequences for host communities: Climate Change. Climate change may be a global phenomenon, but its impacts are felt locally, and in many host communities, its consequences are exaggerated due to mining activities.

Mining activities affect the environment in multiple ways that exacerbate climate change. Common effects of mining, such as greenhouse effect, air pollution, deforestation, soil-stripping and groundwater depletion, are easy, visible culprits that worsen the impacts climate change such as flooding, changes in temperature and increasingly unpredictable rainfalls that affect agricultural cycles, placing additional pressures on agriculture-related livelihoods and household incomes. Where mining also competes for land and water resources, climate change can further deepen community vulnerability. These facts raise questions: What is the benefit of mining to communities if they are left worse off than before the activity began? Are there ways to ensure the protection of mining host communities from mining-related climate change impacts? Are there strategies to ensure their resilience?

As West Africa positions itself as a key player in the global critical minerals race, host communities must build their knowledge on environmental stewardship, climate resilience, local impacts, climate-smart remediation, and long-term sustainability.

Our August session will therefore consider:

• What does climate change mean for mining host communities in Nigeria?
• What remediation and adaptation measures should be in place to support communities affected by mining and climate-related impacts?
• If critical minerals truly prevent climate change impacts, especially for mining host communities.
• What practical steps governments, corporations and communities can take to build climate resilience

Whether you have attended previous sessions or are joining for the first time, we invite you to participate in this important conversation.