environmental damage
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Mining for essential minerals in Eastern Europe and Central Asia linked to rights abuses
A recent U.K. report documents over 400 human rights abuse claims in the mining sector of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, critical for the global shift to sustainable energy.
In short:
- The U.K.-based Business and Human Rights Resource Center tracked abuses in 16 countries, mainly concerning worker safety and environmental damage.
- Russia tops the list with 112 cases, including concealed workplace accidents and severe environmental pollution.
- Economic pressures and weak regulations in the region contribute to ongoing violations, despite increasing global demand for these minerals.
Key quote:
“The race to net zero cannot trample over the poor. The renewables revolution is happening, but we must make sure that it is done in a way that moves us towards justice.”
— U.N. Secretary General António Guterres
Why this matters:
This mining is essential for achieving global low-carbon goals, yet it's mired in human and environmental crises. In regions rich in minerals—vital for everything from construction to technology and energy—local populations often bear the brunt of the industry's less savory practices. The environmental toll is equally concerning, with extensive mining operations contributing to deforestation, soil erosion, water contamination, and air pollution.
Shannon Kelleher: In push to mine for minerals, clean energy advocates ask what going green really means
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Oil spill from Shell pipeline fouls farms and a river in a long-polluted part of Nigeria
AP journalist Taiwo Adebayo writes about an oil spill at a Shell facility in Nigeria has contaminated farmland and a river. It's upended livelihoods in the fishing and farming communities in part of the Niger Delta, which has long endured environmental pollution caused by the oil industry.
In a nutshell:
The spill originated from the Trans-Niger Pipeline operated by Shell, which has faced resistance from local communities due to environmental pollution caused by the oil industry. While the volume of the spill is yet to be determined, activists have shared images of contaminated land, oil-covered water surfaces, and dead fish. Despite attempts to contain the leak, the cleanup efforts have been stalled due to mistrust and past grievances between the residents and Shell, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the Niger Delta region in addressing environmental damage caused by oil production.
Key quote:
”A credible cleanup would have been a beacon of hope for the Niger Delta and other areas in Africa that have suffered oil pollution, but no credible cleanup is ongoing,” said Ledum Mitee, a veteran Ogoni environmental activist and former president of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People. “It is a cover-up, and we do not see the impact.”
The big picture:
The Niger Delta continues to grapple with significant challenges in addressing the environmental damage inflicted by oil production. Decades of pollution have taken a toll on the region's communities, depriving them of clean water, damaging agriculture and fishing industries, and fueling a cycle of violence. Despite promises of cleanup initiatives and recommendations from independent assessments, progress has been slow. The lack of a credible and effective cleanup effort further exacerbates the frustration and despair felt by the people of the Niger Delta, who continue to bear the brunt of environmental degradation caused by oil production.
Read the article at the Associated Press.
There are countless examples of energy companies polluting the environments in which they operate. One example is this special report about communities across the U.S. that face environmental injustices.
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Alle Dörfer/Flickr
Greta Thunberg removed by German police from coal mine protest site
Demonstrators have been trying to block plans to raze the town of Lützerath.
Ukraine estimates $35 bn in environment damage from Russia invasion
Environmental damage in Ukraine caused by Russia's invasion was estimated at around 36 billion euros ($35.3 billion), with millions of hectares of natural reserves under threat, Ukraine's environment minister said on Monday.
Newsletter
Bitcoin climate impact greater than gold mining, study shows
Environmental damage of producing cryptocurrency averages 35% of its market value over past five years.
South Africans are standing up to Shell, Big Oil
On South Africa’s breathtaking Wild Coast, grass-roots resistance is growing as Shell seeks to conduct seismic tests to map the area’s geology.
On the Cajun coast, a chef grapples with threats to a seafood tradition
From her New Orleans restaurant, Melissa Martin sees the environmental damage that could end the region’s rich culture of food and fishing.
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