INTRODUCTION Despite enhanced industry commitment to improving environmental performance, pollution of and access to water remains a major source of conflict between the mining industry and local communities, with continuing reports of associated health issues, cattle and livestock deaths and destruction of livelihoods from subsistence farming and fishing. Although the connection between mining, the surrounding environment and the health and wellbeing of local communities has been widely acknowledged, there is a lack of systemic and objective studies analysing the actual incidences of social and environmental injustices. EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINING, WATER AND COMMUNITIES Dr Jenny Broadhurst ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Future Water Committee would like to thank and acknowledge the following sponsors: EXAMPLE IMAGE EXAMPLE IMAGE EXAMPLE IMAGE An inter-disciplinary study within the Minerals to Metals Research group at the University of Cape Town is seeking to develop a more holistic understanding of the facts, perceptions, concerns and conflicts in the context of the mine-environment-community relationship, with specific emphasis on: • Historical incidents of environmental pollution from mining, and associated community effects • Perceptions and understanding amongst communities and NGOs with regards to potential cause and effect relationships • The gaps and shortcomings with respect to the availability of systematically derived, objective evidence to support rational debate and actions on the environmental and social implications of mining. Three Southern African case studies are being undertaken, each entailing a review of published literature and semi-structured interviews with community and government representatives: South African gold case study; South African coal case study; Zambian copper case study. The most significant water quality concern is that of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Globally, mining pollutes 17-27 billion gallons of water per annum Mining mostly occurs in areas associated with high water risks – adding to regional water stress The poorest and most vulnerable are most at risk from the negative impacts of mining on water resources The mining sector now recognises water security as one of its biggest business risks Water most often underpins mine- community conflicts, which can cost up to USD 20 M per week “Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting over” – Mark Twain Coal processing waste Rand Leases dump Courtesy: Eva-Lotte Jansson Courtesy: Time Live

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINING, WATER AND ... · INTRODUCTION Despite enhanced industry commitment to improving environmental performance, pollution of and access to water

Download PDF Report

Upload
others
View
4
Download
0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINING, WATER AND ... · INTRODUCTION Despite enhanced industry commitment to improving environmental performance, pollution of and access to water

INTRODUCTIONDespite enhanced industry commitment to improving environmental performance, pollution of and access to water remains a

major source of conflict between the mining industry and local communities, with continuing reports of associated health issues,

cattle and livestock deaths and destruction of livelihoods from subsistence farming and fishing. Although the connection between

mining, the surrounding environment and the health and wellbeing of local communities has been widely acknowledged, there is a

lack of systemic and objective studies analysing the actual incidences of social and environmental injustices.

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINING, WATER AND COMMUNITIES

Dr Jenny Broadhurst

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe Future Water Committee would like to thank and

acknowledge the following sponsors:

EXAMPLE IMAGE EXAMPLE IMAGE EXAMPLE IMAGE

An inter-disciplinary study within the Minerals to Metals Research group atthe University of Cape Town is seeking to develop a more holisticunderstanding of the facts, perceptions, concerns and conflicts in the contextof the mine-environment-community relationship, with specific emphasis on:• Historical incidents of environmental pollution from mining, and associated

community effects• Perceptions and understanding amongst communities and NGOs with

regards to potential cause and effect relationships• The gaps and shortcomings with respect to the availability of systematically

derived, objective evidence to support rational debate and actions on theenvironmental and social implications of mining.

Three Southern African case studies are being undertaken, each entailing areview of published literature and semi-structured interviews with communityand government representatives: South African gold case study; South Africancoal case study; Zambian copper case study.

The most significant

water quality concern is that of Acid Mine

Drainage (AMD)

Globally, mining pollutes 17-27 billion gallons of water per

annum

Mining mostly occurs in areas associated with

high water risks – adding

to regional water stress

The poorest and most vulnerable are most at risk

from the negative impacts

of mining on water resources

The mining sector now recognises