NGOs

gave the first speech at the Kimberley Process Plenary, ^[i] opening the forum with a “reality check.”

In his address, Shamiso Mtisi, stated, “This forum has often discussed the challenges related to artisanal and small-scale mining. Yet, in our view it has not given sufficient attention to those associated with large-scale mining.

Problems with industrial mines are less common, but if things go wrong, the impact tends to be much more devastating and leaves communities powerless in a David v. Goliath battle with colossal corporate interests.

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.”

(the umbrella organization that acts as an observer of the Kimberley Process on behalf of civil society) shared a press release urging diamond and jewelry businesses genuinely committed to responsible diamond sourcing to endorse four commitments.

Among these is the commitment to undertake on-going, proactive and reactive due diligence of their supply chains. To do so, the group recommended using IRMA as a “promising standard,” stating, “IRMA offers the only third-party, arms-length certification of industrial-scale mine sites for all mined materials that is co-created and governed equitably by the private sector (mining and purchasing), local communities, civil society, and workers.”

shared an agenda for action aimed at charting a course towards responsible sourcing of metals for a green and digital Europe.

In the section on responsible sourcing, the authors recommend, “The European Commission should only recognize due diligence schemes that are based on the highest standards, such as those of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).”

published “Green Mining is a Myth,” a study illustrating how the EU is extracting and consuming a dangerous proportion of the world’s limited resources, with serious consequences.

In the report, the groups name IRMA as “the leading standard on good mining practices” and call for “mandatory IRMA certification for the metal and mineral mining sector through the EU Taxonomy Regulation” and go on to clarify that “unlike weaker standards (e.g. CERA, UNGP, OECD Guidelines), IRMA certification happens at the mine site, rather than the company-level, and follows a step-by-step approach as opposed to a pass or fail one. This breakdown provides better transparency about each activity and prevents companies from making overarching claims about their operations.”

sent a letter to the International Energy Agency, urging the organization to transform its flagship World Energy Outlook report, putting a 1.5°C scenario at the center.

Among the six specific requests collectively made by the group was the following: “Ensure equity and justice with regard to minerals sourcing for clean energy technologies through recycling, circular economy solutions and independent, verifiable responsible mining criteria such as the IRMA Standard.”

unveiled a plan to develop a collaborative certification system to ensure that the changes resulting from Nature-based Solutions for Societal Challenges (NbS) are truly sustainable.

Under IUCN’s NbS certification system, business entities interested in obtaining certification of their Nature-based Solutions intervention will be able to apply for certification through one of several existing sustainability certification schemes recognised by IUCN, namely the Forest Stewardship Council, the Gold Standard, the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, FairTrade International, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

the coordinator of the original Earth Day, a former director of what became the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the founder of Earth Day Network penned an opinion piece for the Seattle Times on the risks of expanding the Copper Mountain Mine tailings dam in British Columbia without an environmental assessment.

In the piece, Denis Hayes relayed, “To be clear, I am not opposed to mining, and I am not opposed to the Copper Mountain Mine. Humankind desperately needs a green-energy revolution, and copper will be indispensable. Leading brands that purchase mined materials, including Microsoft, BMW and Ford Motor Company, know this and are committing to using the rigorous environmental standard hosted by the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance. B.C. needs to catch up to such voluntary measures by adopting and enforcing protective regulations for Washington watersheds and communities downstream.”

published “Just Minerals,” a report focused on safeguarding community rights, sacred places, and public lands from the push for mining expansion.

In their findings, the authors note the importance of market pressure for incentivizing more responsible mining, noting: “Even with effective regulation, mineral sourcing is most responsible when pressure comes from mineral purchasers who see value in better environmental and social governance (ESG). Market pressure has driven a proliferation of voluntary certification programs of varying efficacy for nearly each link in mineral supply chains. For industrial-scale mining, the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) sits at the forefront of generating this market value.” 

recommended IRMA in an E&E News article about concerns being voiced by U.S. government representatives and nonprofit leaders regarding the flow of pollution from Canadian mines into transboundary watersheds.

The article concludes by sharing perspectives of Mitch Friedman, Director of Conservation Northwest, who is quoted saying: “We need to figure out how to save the sky without destroying our waters. We need better mining.”

The reporters add, “He advocated for mining policies that reflect the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance. IRMA provides independent certification to verify mines have sound environmental, human rights and social standards.”