Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga has urged the mining industry to adopt sustainable practices, emphasizing the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and resilience.
In a report by the Daily Tribune, Loyzaga emphasized the urgent need to balance economic growth with environmental protection. She noted that the nation is at a crucial point where climate change complicates risks across sectors but also presents opportunities for mining reform.
Sweden acknowledged the Philippines’ vast mineral wealth, estimated to be between $0.4 to $1 trillion. Meanwhile, Loyzaga stressed that the Philippines must leverage its natural resources responsibly to ensure that mining’s socio-economic benefits reach all Filipinos, especially those in mining communities.
She described the forum as crucial for advancing Philippine Development Goals and international commitments, including the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biodiversity, Sustainable Development Goals, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Loyzaga added that this effort requires investing in science and technology, incorporating social and ecological factors into mining, promoting biodiversity, reducing carbon footprints, and enhancing waste management practices. These should go beyond regulatory requirements to become core elements of a progressive and responsible mining sector.
Key areas for the green transition of the mining industry include biodiversity protection, low-carbon development, and the implementation of the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS).
The DENR has issued Administrative Order No. 2022-04, which mandates comprehensive guidelines to protect and conserve biodiversity in mining operations, emphasizing the integration of biodiversity management plans into mining practices to ensure conservation.
The “Pioneering the Green Transition: Advancing Sustainable Mining” forum, held in Makati City on June 18, 2024, was organized by the Embassy of Sweden and Business Sweden, with the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) as a co-organizer.
The event drew key figures, including Swedish Ambassador Annika Thunborg, Business Sweden Vice President Emil Akander, Swedish Government Ambassador for Sustainable Business Cecilia Ekholm, and COMP Public Affairs Director Michael Toledo.
