minerals

As humanity runs out of oil and minerals, the extraction of previously untouched deposits suddenly pays off -- financially. But experts warn that it will likely further accelerate climate change and seriously damage the environment.  Studies from Australia and Italy point out that peaks in the production of some minerals are to be expected in this century, too -- for example, of copper and gold. Others like mercury and phosphate might have hit their peak already.

After an extensive one-year investigation, Mr. Devaney concludes, in language that is always blunt and at times incendiary, that both the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service have “put the public’s health and safety at risk” by failing to clean up or seal off abandoned mine sites. Several deaths and injuries have already occurred — one mine swallowed an entire vehicle, the report says — and “the potential for more deaths and injuries is ominous.”

More than a quarter of natural World Heritage sites are under pressure by existing or future mineral extraction. For this reason, IUCN is calling on the private sector, state-run companies and governments themselves to adopt and enforce the "no go" principle, meaning that no mining and/or mineral and oil exploration and production can be carried out in World Heritage sites. The call was made today in Québec City, Canada, during the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee.