The Mining Act does need…

The Mining Act does need revision, but instead of removing closure and rehabilitation plans, the Act needs to include the requirement for a full Environmental Assessment of the project BEFORE it begins, including determining the loss of carbon dioxide storage that exists on the site and the loss of future carbon dioxide absorption potential of the site. Also the loss of ecosystem services should be fully accounted for.

ONLY IF the total carbon emissions and loss of future sequestration and ecosystem services is LESS THAN the environmental benefits of proceeding with the project eg. projected reduction in CO2 emissions from the use of the final metals, should the project go ahead. What is the use of talking about GHG emissions reduction by using EVs if the production of the EVs exceeds the benefits of leaving the land to store and sequester carbon? A mine will just add to the total carbon burden if the lost storage potential exceeds any benefits that might finally accrue.

Our society needs to make these calculations for every project we undertake. The future of humanity depends on it.