Home About Worldwatch Publications Online Features ... Contact Us Sign up for free PDFs and e-mail updates: E-Mail this page Live Online Discussions Reducing the impact of mining Payal Sampat : International Campaign Director - Mineral Policy Center We are very happy this week to talk with Worldwatch Research Associate Payal Sampat about the need for dramatic changes to reduce the environmental impact of mining. Mining is one of the planet's leading polluters, and is threatening some of the world's most ecologically fragile regions. Dick Bell, Worldwatch Institute: Welcome to today's chat about reducing the environmental impacts of mining. We're very happy to have Worldwatch Research Associate Payal Sampat with us to talk about what we can do about mining problems. Payal Sampat: Thank you. It's great to be here. I look forward to chatting with all of you out there about miningand also about ways to get the materials we need with incurring far fewer costs. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Mining is, as you say, a major polluter. However, in my view, as a geologist and economist, with one exception all mining-environmental problems can be solved by technical fixes; ie, using known technology and spending enough money. The one exception is entry: Whether mining should take place at all in any given region. Do you agree? If not, why not? (Supplementary: My emphasis is that the key mining "environmental" problem is socio-cultural, not bio-physical; ie, it involves communities. Payal Sampat: | |
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