A Myanmar student’s plea for climate justice at COP29
Rare earth mining in Kachin State, Myanmar, mirrors the struggles faced by resource-rich but vulnerable regions worldwide. While the global demand for rare earth elements fuels technological progress, the extraction process leaves behind scars on the environment and local communities, highlighting the urgent need for climate justice and sustainable solutions.
At crossroads of opportunity and exploitation
Kachin State, located in northern Myanmar, is rich in rare earth minerals essential for renewable energy technologies and high-tech devices. However, this natural wealth has become a double-edged sword.It presents an opportunity for economic development. On the other hand, it has unleashed a wave of environmental degradation, social upheaval, and conflict.
According to reports, Myanmar accounts for 50% of the global supply of heavy rare earth elements, primarily mined in Kachin and exported to China.
Environmental devastation in mining zones
Rare earth mining in Kachin comes with devastating environmental consequences. The extraction process involves the use of toxic chemicals that seep into soil and waterways.
Rivers that once sustained local agriculture and fishing communities are now heavily polluted, making water unsafe for consumption and farming. A 2023 environmental study revealed that 70% of the water sources in mining regions were polluted, with elevated levels of heavy metals like lead and mercury.
Deforestation has also been rampant, with satellite imagery showing that over 30,000 hectares of forest were cleared between 2018 and 2022 for mining operations. This deforestation has disrupted biodiversity, increased soil erosion, and heightened the risk of flooding. These issues are the alarming consequences of climate change.
Social impacts: health crises and displacement
The social impact of rare earth mining is as severe as its environmental toll. Communities living near mining sites report rising cases of respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, and waterborne infections due to exposure to polluted air and water.
According to a local health report from 2022, incidents of respiratory illness increased by 40% in villages near major mining operations. In addition to health concerns, displacement is a growing crisis. Entire villages have been forcibly relocated to accommodate mining companies.
The United Nations estimated in 2023 that over 10,000 people have been displaced in Kachin due to mining activities. These displaced families often end up in overcrowded camps with limited access to healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities.
Economic exploitation and conflict
While the global demand for rare earths has been increasing day by day, the economic benefits rarely reach the local population. The profits from rare earth exports, valued at $1 billion annually, are often siphoned off by foreign companies and local elites.
For the average Kachin resident, mining has brought little more than poverty and insecurity. The industry has also fueled conflict in the region. Armed groups vie for control over lucrative mining sites, fueling violence and insecurity.
The profits generated by rare earth exports often bypass local communities, deepening poverty, and inequality. Reports from Amnesty International indicate that at least two hundred violent incidents related to mining disputes occurred in 2022 alone.
A global problem with local consequences
The rare earth minerals extracted in Kachin power the renewable energy technologies and digital devices used globally. Yet, this global reliance on rare earths comes at a high cost to local communities. The imbalance between global demand and local suffering raises critical ethical questions about resource extraction. In Kachin, the promise of economic development has not materialized for most residents.
Instead, they bear the brunt of environmental destruction and social displacement. This reality underscores the urgent need for social justice and sustainable and equitable mining practices.
Inspiration from grassroots movements
As a student from Myanmar at the Asian University for Women, I have witnessed the impact of grassroots environmental movements like Bangladesh’s Green Bangle Project, which tackle environmental degradation through community engagement.
Reflecting on this, I see the urgent need for such initiatives in Kachin, where rare earth mining has left deep scars on the land and its people. While the challenges are immense, grassroots initiatives offer hope. In Bangladesh, the Green Bangle Project empowers communities to combat environmental degradation by planting trees and promoting sustainable practices.
Similarly, Kachin communities could benefit from reforestation programs and sustainable land management initiatives. For instance, replanting native trees in degraded mining areas could help restore ecosystems and mitigate soil erosion.
Community-driven monitoring systems could hold mining companies accountable for environmental and social violations. These efforts, however, require both local engagement and international support.
A call for sustainable, global responsibility
Addressing the impact of rare earth mining in Kachin demands a combination of local action and global responsibility. As the world transitions to renewable energy, it must confront the ethical dilemmas of resource extraction.
Governments, corporations, and consumers all have a role to play in ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of vulnerable communities. Therefore, I urge the decision makers at COP29 to push leaders to adopt ethical mining standards, fund restoration of mining-affected areas, and support recycling technologies to reduce reliance on rare earth extraction. I advocate for transparent supply chains, reforestation programs, and global accountability to ensure a just and sustainable energy transition.
