Nickel mining in Caraga singled out for damaging environment, livelihoods — report

MINING in northeastern Mindanao’s Caraga region has increased the local community's vulnerability to the climate crisis, damaged livelihoods, and increased food insecurity, according to an international climate and human rights group.

- — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel

In a news report released on Tuesday, Climate Rights International (CRI) warned of the industry's impact as global demand grows for electric vehicle batteries, which use nickel as a key raw material.

“Nickel mining and related pollution have damaged the environment and threatened the rights of communities in multiple ways, including by destroying livelihoods, driving food insecurity, polluting water resources, threatening health, and impacting education,” CRI found.

BusinessWorld approached the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines for comment, but the chamber said it is still studying the report.

‘The Philippines is the world’s second-largest producer of nickel and the leading exporter of raw nickel ore. The United Nations trade database indicates that the Philippines exported nearly 45 million metric tons of nickel last year, valued at over $1.04 billion.