Responsible mining: "a collaboration on the environmental dimensions" between UNEP and IRMA

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) have announced a "collaboration on the environmental dimensions of responsible mining, focusing on the improvement of transparency and environmental performance in the mining sector", on 11/02/2026.

"As the demand for critical minerals grows, it is imperative that extraction processes do not come at the cost of environmental or community well-being", said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of the Industry and Economy Division at UNEP.

"Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the two organisations agreed to a strategic partnership focused on the exchange of expertise on responsible mining topics, including voluntary sustainability standards, multi-stakeholder governance models and the verification of standards claims", they said.

"The partnership will also foster dialogue among stakeholders and contribute to the identification of best practices and gaps in the sector. Research and data will be disseminated through platforms such as UNEP’s Digital Knowledge Hub on the Environmental Aspects of…