ASM plays a central role in local economies as well, Finn says. About 40.5 million people around the world participate in ASM in 80 different countries, and up to 270 million people depend on it.
However, ASM is linked to environmental degradation, can be detrimental to health outcomes, and is frequently associated with human rights abuses, including child labor. ASM workers generally operate with limited capital, for minimal pay, and without social safety nets.
Artisanal and small-scale mining plays a critical role in supplying the world with minerals vital for decarbonization, but this kind of mining typically lacks regulation and can be socially and environmentally harmful.
It's easy to forget this, because it's happening somewhere far away in a place we haven't heard of and to populations of people that have been absolutely marginalized for hundreds of years.
I don't think the solution lies in us shaming each other as individuals: I think part of the solution probably also lies in holding political elites and major corporate actors' feet to the fire.
Decarbonization and social justice: The case for artisanal and small-scale mining
Conclusion
This article makes the case for ASM because it is an essential way to allow economic redistribution, aid social justice, and contribute to global supply needs for critical minerals. We lay out some strong arguments against ASM but argue that these can be addressed through inclusive governance and regulatory transformations. It is imperative to understand ASM practices in a new light. Supporting new models of ASM constitutes a pivotal way to enhance social justice as global decarbonization.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629624003244?via%3Dihub