Environmental Governance in Artisanal Cobalt Mining: Balancing Sustainability and Economic Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Faustin Luhungu, University of Ottawa (Canada)

In the D. R. Congo, the implementation of cooperatives to formalize artisanal mining has not resulted in an increase in revenue share or empowerment for the miners; instead, it has merely legitimized their exploitation, through low or insignificant wages, inadequate resettlement, lack of monitoring, unfair pricing and value assessment, unrepresentative and undemocratic worker-led cooperatives. Additionally, there are rising voices towards reducing the use of natural resource materials for economic development because of price volatility, and high extraction and environmental costs. Therefore, understanding how environmental regulations can influence informal sectors like artisanal mining is essential for promoting sustainable development in resource-rich developing countries.

This presentation is part of a series of three sessions on Global Mineral Governance, organized by Chris Huggins.