THE government should halt the approval of new mines amid environmental degradation and alleged human rights abuses resulting from nickel mining, according to an international climate organization.
This, after a report by Climate Rights International (CRI) showed that nickel mining heightened the vulnerability of residents and workers in the Caraga Region to the climate crisis.
CRI’s report titled ‘Broken Promises: Philippines Nickel Mining Threatens Rights and Increases Climate Vulnerability,’ also revealed that mining destroyed fishing and farming livelihoods, and caused severe environmental pollution that threatened drinking water and health.
As such, CRI researcher Krista Shennum urged the government to prevent and remedy environmental degradation and alleged human rights abuses resulting from nickel mining.
‘We’re also calling on the Filipino government to stop permitting new mines until the industry cleans up its act,’ Shennum told reporters at the press conference of the report’s official launch in Quezon City on Tuesday.
‘If the industry is not following laws, if it’s not fully enforcing and complying, then to add more mines is quite concerning,’ she added.
The country stands as the second-largest nickel producer following Indonesia and the world’s leading exporter of raw nickel ore, a mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and the stainless steel industry.
CRI noted that harms to local communities and the environment were being driven by the individual and cumulative activities of these nickel mining projects.
‘Many nickel mining companies in the Caraga Region have links to powerful actors in the Philippines, including active and former politicians, politically connected families, and wealthy businesspeople,’ the organization said.
With this, the CRI said nickel companies should take immediate action to address water and air pollution caused by their operations and ensure proper disposal of mine waste to minimize environmental pollution.
Meanwhile, the international organization said EVs and battery companies that source nickel from the Philippines should use their leverage to ensure that suppliers end and remedy rights abuses, clean up water and air pollution, and protect the rights of environmental and human rights defenders.
EV companies should also increase transparency by providing public information about all companies in their transition mineral supply chains, it added.
‘Electric vehicle and battery companies have unique leverage to demand that the mining industry cleans up its act. Their customers are environmentally conscious and will decide to buy from companies with the cleanest record,’ Shennum said.
‘If EV companies want to position themselves as global leaders in the fight against climate change, they must demand that mining companies in their supply chains respect the rights of communities and end environmentally destructive practices.’