NGOs

The Debate published a multi-sector discussion “How Can U.S. Safely Mine Minerals Critical to a Carbon-Free Economy?” which included an article by Earthworks’ Payal Sampat entitled “Transition Must Be Just, Equitable and Responsible”.

In it she recognizes that “reforms start with the rules governing mining” and that “some leading automakers and electronics companies are already asking suppliers to undergo assessments by the multi-sector-governed Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance.”

published a Q&A: “EU’s Flawed Reliance on Audits, Certifications for Raw Materials Rules”.

Even as the authors describe third-party audits as “inherently limited”, they explain that HRW is an IRMA board member because IRMA is “unique among mining sector standards initiatives because it is equally governed by civil society and the private sector.” And “the combination of IRMA’s equal governance system, its detailed standard, and its public audit reports makes it the comparatively strongest standard that mining companies can use to provide transparency on their conduct and practices.”

published a report providing “Guidance for Electric Grid Infrastructure Decisionmakers and Stakeholders.”

The report only mentions IRMA by name as a “standard that aims to reduce the damage caused by resource extraction.”

during the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos published “Why business and finance should prioritise a nature-positive Amazon” on the WEF website.

In describing global importance of the Amazon, its severe degradation and mining’s ongoing role in that decline, the authors call upon “business and finance to promote certification by Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance.”

issued the report: “The Future is Circular: Circular Economy and Critical Minerals for the Green Transition.”

The authors acknowledge the need for continued primary extraction and call for change of course towards a less harmful mineral supply. IRMA is described in this section, being the only mining standard mentioned, as providing “a verification and certification for a more socially and environmentally responsible mining.

Clean Vehicles Director Julia Poliscanova was quoted in an article sharing three pillars which must be part of the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act.

In addition to recommending any mines in Europe meet best-practice standards, she noted: “Although domestic production is the goal, imports will be inevitable. It means transparent and diverse markets, supported by strong sustainability standards such as the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), are key to guaranteeing responsible supply.”

published “An Examination of Industry Standards in the Raw Materials Sector.”

Germanwatch determined that, unlike all other evaluated standards, IRMA satisfied the majority of its evaluation metrics. Regarding audits in they remarked, “we should emphasise in particular here the certification report by IRMA, which provides detailed and differentiated information about the knowledge acquired within the scope of the audit and sheds light on details on the state of implementation [where others do not]. IRMA shows that transparent communication is possible.”

published an article commending the European Parliament’s resolution regarding IRMA.

The article expresses “hopes the Netherlands will promote certification with this demanding standard for responsible mining.

IUCN NL therefore encourages companies to publicly commit to [independent] standards, especially the progressive IRMA Standard.

This standard was developed by a multi-sector coalition consisting of mining companies, purchasing companies (such as jewelers and electronics manufacturers), NGOs, labour unions and mining affected communities. Also, IUCN NL and its partner organizations that are committed to the protection of vulnerable ecosystems have actively provided input during the consultation rounds.”

sent an open letter to the Biden administration, requesting presidential support of a moratorium on deep seabed mining.

In addition to this request, the group asked for the government to “take steps to meet the demand for critical minerals through sustainable, circular economy policies, including advanced recycling and domestic processing paired with mining reform and better international sourcing requirements, such as the IRMA Standard.”

There is a solution available to detect and mitigate problems more readily, but it has not yet made its way in the diamond sector. I refer to the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, which is the only third-party, arms-length certification of industrial scale mining for all mined materials that is co-created and governed equitably by the private sector, local communities, civil society, and workers. The KP CSC calls for IRMA certification for all industrial diamond mines.”