Highlights and images for 5 November 2025

Mining operations may be associated with negative environmental impacts, but an informal poll of Annual General Meeting (AGM) participants showed most believe mining projects can achieve a net-positive impact on surrounding water bodies. Discussions through the last day of the AGM of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) addressed water governance, opportunities for women in mining, and national strategies on critical minerals. A wrap-up session offered international and regional perspectives.

On strengthening water governance, speakers discussed the value of strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) of potential mining sites and the application of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). They recommended collaborative governance and multistakeholder partnerships that include companies, governments, and communities.

In a session on inclusive strategies across mineral value chains, speakers emphasized the business case for empowering women entrepreneurs, noting they create jobs and have a higher tendency to give back to the community. As an example, Sonnia Sarango, founder of the Soy Emprendedora Initiative, Ecuador, showcased women’s achievements in producing sustainable food products and beverages, providing technical services, managing events, and running circular economy activities, while acquiring increased skills in marketing and administration.

On national strategies for critical minerals, the International Energy Agency (IEA) considered experiences from Georgia and the Philippines. Both countries are managing change in their respective mining sectors: in Georgia, updating Soviet-era data on mineral resources; and in the Philippines, preparing for increased mineral exploration and activity. Laura Blizzard, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK, highlighted the UK’s support for international collaboration, including partnerships between the British Geological Survey and developing countries, which will make resource data available via an open-source platform.

In the final plenary, Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder, Vice-President, Global Strategies and Managing Director, Europe, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), reflected that the concept of “value” had been discussed from all angles over the three days of the AGM.

Daniel Hill, Natural Resources Canada, drew attention to Canada’s role as the holder of the 2025 G7 Presidency. Referring to the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, he noted that G7 countries are working on a roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals. He announced Canada’s allocation of CAD 10 million to support developing countries in benefiting from the global energy and digital transition.

Marit Kitaw, UN Economic Commission for Africa, highlighted the region’s Green Minerals Strategy, adopted by the African Union in February 2025, which supports sustainable mining, building resilient supply chains, the green economy, and ensuring Africa’s mineral wealth leads to broad-based socioeconomic development.

Clovis Freire, Chief, Extractive Commodities Section, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), summarized key takeaways from the AGM, including: the need for economic diversification to reduce countries’ exposure to price volatility and exclusion; the impetus to reinvest mining revenues in people and the planet; the untapped potential of non-metallic minerals to enable inclusive growth; and the importance of wise resource management and transparency. Among several international initiatives, he highlighted the newly established UN Task Force on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.  

IGF Secretariat Director Isabelle Ramdoo expressed appreciation for how the AGM has grown each year, and thanked everyone for their contributions.

The meeting closed at 5.45 pm.