Topic: The Environmental Impact of Mining
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Jessica Robach
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Germany position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Mining has been a crucial component of human civilization for at least 40,000 years. However, it has become impossible for the international community to deny the profound and alarming impacts that these practices can have on the global environment. It has been proven that various mining practices contribute to poor air quality, chemical contamination, and landscape alteration. Mining practices vary greatly around the world. Practices such as open-pit mining, underwater excavations, and offshore drilling all negatively impact the environment. Despite the significant environmental repercussions of mining, it is crucial to note that the impact of a given mine depends on a multitude of factors. These factors include the overall size of the mining operation, the resource being extracted, and the method being used at the mining site. Assessing this information allows for the international community to institute policies to further protect the global environment and mitigate the impacts of mining. The delegation of Germany has sought to safeguard the environment for decades, and will continue to do so. The efforts began with the Federal Mining Act of 1980. This act provided a single unified “regulatory regime” and vastly improved mining practices throughout the nation. This act clearly states that any deleterious impact on exploration and extraction must be kept to an absolute minimum. Another integral part of the policy is mine closure planning. If the measures of a given mine are not deemed sufficient, it can be shut down by the government. The Health and Safety Mining Ordinance of 1991 also helps to alleviate the safety concerns of practices. The Federal General Mining Ordinance of 1995 included a more detailed set of legislation following the Federal Mining Act of 1980. Despite these measures and provisions, there is still more the delegation can do to ensure the environmental sustainability of mining practices. The delegation of Germany seeks to fortify social development, economic stability, and environmental protection on a global scale. The main aspect of German mining policies is to implement integrated risk protection with strict requirements on procedure, safety measures, and environmental impact. To ensure that these measures are effective, Germany also plans to employ new mechanisms for compliance and monitoring of mining practices. The delegation intends to implement policies that fall under a strict uniform structure. This will cultivate a comprehensive resolution that can address all aspects of mining, as well as allow practices to be monitored by an administrative body. These policies can be employed alongside nations of the international community in order to promote safe and environmentally conscious practices throughout the world.
