Topic: The Environmental Impact of Mining
Country: Serbia
Delegate Name: Chase Hammerberg
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Serbia position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Mining is one of the world's oldest forms of industry, dating back tens of thousands of years. In the modern world with new technologies and new concerns for environmental preservation, the United Nations Environmental Committee is taking action in order to regulate mining and help improve the conditions in which Miners work under. Mining has many negative affects on the environment such carbon emissions, pollution of safe drinking water, and destruction of the environment. Serbia is the 7th largest producer of coal in Europe, and the 3rd largest producer of copper in Europe. In 2013 alone mining in Serbia made up 2% of the GDP and employed around 22,000 Serbian people. The Serbian mining industry has made a large comeback recently and provided a much needed support system after years of turmoil with neighboring countries. Serbia would not be interested in any environmental protections set by the United Nations as the Serbian law on Environmental Protection sets the standard for all environmental protections in the nation. Mining in Serbia can be of help to the more than 11% of unemployed Serbs, providing stable jobs for them and stable incomes for their families. The environmental concerns associated with mining are of little concern to Serbia as the industry provides so much for the nation. Already in Serbia the nation requires that any company desiring to use land for mining purposes must first submit the required papers, as well as an environmental impact studies and an environmental protection plan. If the plans infringe on public water supply natural beauty or other natural necessities they will be rejected. Serbia wishes to be left alone to form their own protections and mining regulations so that regulations possibly formed by the United Nations do not infringe on the economy or prosperity of Serbia.
