Mining for Metals in a Post-Cop Intersectional World: Can It Be Fair?

PROGRAMME

14.00-14.30 CET Introductory Session 

• Miriam Kennet (Green Economics Institute) – Introduction to the event
• Ewa Sufin  (Poland) (Fundacja Strefa Zieleni/GEF Member of the Board) – Introduction to GEF and the Metals for a Green and Digital Europe project

14:30 – 15:30 CET – Session 1: Mining metals for the energy transition – can it be fair? 

The role of the internet in driving social justice in 2022: The Potential for the Internet in Driving Social Justice-Can it be fair- ? Challenges for a Just Transition- an issue for our times

The internet is a powerful tool. The wide potential for democratisation and social justice it holds are evident. However, many online initiatives have failed to develop into real social change. To effectively utilise the power of the internet for social justice, we must navigate these problems and understand how detrimental outcomes materialise. This session will explore the conflicting realities of the nature of the internet and offer solutions for reclaiming it as a tool for social justice.

 Exploring the life cycle (procurement, use and recycling) and the practical situation

Speakers include:

• Liljana Popovska (North Macedonia ) – Former MEP expert in Mining Issues and impacts
• Hans Kåre Flø (Norway )Master of science in physics and master of management. Special adviser at Tekna which is a trade union for Engineers and scientists”. -Metals and their importance in European jobs and industry and the transition in Technology and climate challenges: Norway has important rare earths but has not exploited them yet- what are the issues? “Rare earths from Norway and challenges connected to producing them”
• Rasa Tumaševičiūtė (Lithuania) – Europe’s Recycling of Aluminium, circular economy consultant and government sustainability strategist. Aluminium sector. How critical is situation in Europe?
• Zaklina Zivkovic, Polekol (Serbia) – Green Economy Expert, Serbia and Executive director of Organization for Political Ecology, Polekol. The mass mobilization of citizens and environmental organizations in Serbia against extractivism that our country is currently facing. On one hand, we are aware of the need for metals for the green transition, but on another planning 40 new mines in the next 15 years in Serbia is nowhere near just the transition that we are also advocating for.

Moderated by: Bianca Madison (Croatia, Italy, Denmark, UK) & Marlyn Hughes (UK)

15:30 – 15:40 CET Short Break

15:40 – 16:10 CET Session 2: Break Out Rooms

In this section we will share knowledge and evidence  about how metals are brought into Europe and the new supply chain realities within the globalisation context.  We’ll also explore new commodity flows and power bases in the global economy and the challenges for the green transition. What should the main priorities be to start to address these challenges?

Moderated by: Liljana Popovska, North Macedonia – Former MEP expert in Mining Issues and impacts

• Bianca-Madison – Vuleta (Croatia, Italy, Denmark and UK)
• Hans Kare Flo ( Norway)
• Rasa Tumaševičiūtė (Lithuania)

16:10-16:40 CET Presentations, feedback and discussions in Plenary 

16:40 -17:40 CET Session 3: Diverse perspectives and issues for different social outcomes.

Since its inception, the internet has been recognised for its potential in driving social justice in a variety of ways. A space to bring together new or marginalised communities despite geographical boundaries; a public sphere for debate and deliberation; a means to spread information and a platform for the organisation and mobilisation of incipient social movements.  In this session we’ll explore perspectives from different groups impacted including indigenous perspectives and views and voices from around Europe and beyond.

• Ewa Sufin (Fundacja Strefa Zieleni) European Impacts of Metals Mining-No more BAU Energy Efficiency
• Baghadadi Mahrouz – Berber Indigenous speaker and engineer (Algeria) – intervention in French
• Professor Alexandra Harrington: (University of Lancaster) Just transitions for mining sector activities and energy transitions in Europe, the SDGs and mining.
• Asia Mohamed – (Sudan) – IPBES Africa Lead for United Nations Biodiversity. The impact of gold mining on biodiversity (tbc)Moderated by: Bianca Madison – Vuleta – (Croatia, Denmark, Italy and UK) and Marlyn Hughes

   

17.40 – 18.10 CET – Conclusions : Session 4: Mining for metals can it ever be fair?  Can supply chains ever be fair in 2022 in Europe? 

Conclusions from the Metals for a Green and Digital Europe transnational project.

• Speakers: Richard Wouters, Project leader ‘Metals for a green and digital Europe’ for the Green European Foundation & Weternschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks
• Miriam Kennet (Green Economics Institute) – Climate change and metals- the implications for social and environmental justice with the work of GEIClimate.org and the latest scientific information from the UNFCCC.

Practicalities

Date and time: 2nd April, 2-6pm.

Audience: This event is open to the general public.

Registration: Please register via this link

Recommended reading

Where We Mine: Resource Politics in Latin America, an article from the Green European Journal.

The following session is organised by the Green European Foundation, supported by the Green Economics Institute and Wetenschappelijk Bureau and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.