Topic: The Environmental Impact of Mining
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: Colin Assenmacher
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Nigeria position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Many modern methods of mining are reaching deeper, and operating at a much higher efficiency than ever before. Today’s society continues to push for new ways to mine these natural resources and strives for more effective ways to obtain these materials. While this increase in productivity and efficiency has reaped major economic benefits, the surrounding environment has suffered from many resulting issues. Three main forms of environmental stresses that result from mining activities; acid mine drainage, air pollutants and solid wastes. All of these by products of mining play a large role in what scientists and the international community alike consider to be an environmental issue. Over the recent years, the amount of unregulated mining has significantly increased, especially in less developed nations. This in turn has lead to an alarming spike in the amount of contaminated resources and land across the globe. Many acts and regulations have been imposed and attempted enforcement has occurred, but a true set of international standards are still absent. As a nation whose economy relies heavily on the excavation of oil, Nigeria remains highly involved in this issue. With the drop in oil prices over the past few years, the Nigerian people have been forced to deal with an extreme economic depression. Added onto the fact that 62% of Nigerians live in extreme poverty, the detrimental effects that would ensue from an oil or mining deterioration, would be disastrous. Nigeria hopes that these environmental talks can help to bolster mining within our borders, especially in regards to crude oil. Crude oil production has been on the rise throughout the world, but as a member of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) the majority of the world's crude oil reserves fall under our jurisdiction. Overall, all members of OPEC should remain relevant any discussion that involves changes in mining operations of any degree. Throughout the international community, there is a recognition that mining is impacting the surrounding environment and casts a negative impact upon all surrounding life. Nigeria hopes to see a solution reached that ensures both environmental protection and preservation without influencing the economic value of mining. We also do recognize the need to diminish the overall effect that mining has on the surrounding area, especially in lesser developed nations. Overall, Nigeria hopes that these environmental regulations or guidelines can be enforced, without having an extreme affect on the economic prosperity that mining brings.
