The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration in promoting environmentally sustainable practices in minerals and metals management. The agreement was formalised during the 20th IGF Annual General Meeting (AGM), highlighting the partners’ shared commitment to aligning mining practices with global sustainability goals.
Mining, minerals, and metals play a vital role in the global economy, providing millions of jobs and contributing significantly to GDP. However, the sector also brings considerable environmental challenges, including habitat destruction, greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution from heavy metals and toxic chemicals. The partnership between UNEP and IGF aims to mitigate these impacts by leveraging their expertise and networks to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and multilateral environmental agreements.
The agreement outlines a range of initiatives over the next two years. UNEP and IGF plan to facilitate knowledge sharing by establishing networks to promote sound environmental management of minerals and metals. They will also collaborate on capacity-building programmes, including workshops and training, both online and in-person, focusing on sustainability practices such as circularity, net-zero targets, and pollution-free mine closures. To address artisanal and small-scale mining, the partnership will explore strategies for handling gold mining tailings.
Additionally, the two organisations will develop a digital knowledge hub to compile good practices and resources related to sustainable minerals and metals management, aligning with the goals of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution 6/5. The collaboration will also extend to activities supporting the UN Secretary General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and the UN Framework on Just Transitions, while engaging in global conferences to advocate for sustainable mining practices.
Elisa Tonda, Chief of UNEP’s Resources and Markets progBranch, emphasised the importance of the partnership. “We are honored to formalise our partnership with IGF, a valued partner for UNEP’s work on mining, minerals and metals since 2022 when the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted resolution 5/12 on Environmental Aspects of Minerals and Metals Management. We look forward to enhancing our partnership to further accelerate progress on achieving environmental sustainability of minerals and metals,” she said.
Greg Radford, Director of IGF, highlighted the collaboration’s potential to support member countries. “UNEP has unique expertise and experience that will benefit IGF’s 85 member countries seeking to strengthen environmental governance in the mining sector. Together, we aim to enhance environmental stewardship in resource-rich countries, echoing the theme of our General Meeting this year — Balancing the Need for Minerals with Protecting People and the Planet—into concrete, effective actions that benefit our member countries and advance sustainable development,” he said.
