Catholic Approaches to Mining: A Framework for Reflection, Planning, and Action

<p dir="ltr">The global demand for mineral extraction is increasing, fuelled by energy demand, including the transition to renewable energy, consumer electronics, military expansion, and many other factors. Across all continents, mining leads to environmental degradation, and in many contexts, it can also contribute to human rights violations, forced displacement, violent conflict, loss of livelihoods, and other harms. In many parts of the world, the Catholic Church is at the forefront of accompanying affected communities, and involved in linking local and global responses. How can it accompany and respond more effectively, how can it be a peace-builder and witness of hope, and how can others learn from that experience?<br><br><i>A Framework for Reflection, Planning, and Action </i>intends to help Church leadership, especially bishops and those in pastoral ministry, and Catholic organizations harness their capacity to respond to problems associated with mining and bring hope to affected communities. It offers a synthesis of good practices and lessons learned for how Catholic actors and their allies can have a positive impact and address the many dimensions of the socio-environmental injustices related to mining. The document is organized along the “See, Judge, Act” model. Its focus is on mineral and metal mining but the guidelines provided may also apply in the context of oil and gas as the sectors share many similar problems. The document is the result of a year-long consultative process with Catholic actors and others defending communities and the environment in mining contexts across all continents.</p>