Gold Rush Threatens to Cause Climate Risks in Nova Scotia
Gold | 2023-05-30 12:24:45
Out of the four completed mines, two are gold mines. Also, two other gold mines are in progress to be completed.
By Paul Ploumis
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to experts, the long-term impacts of contamination caused by gold mining activities in Nova Scotia, coupled with the new gold rush threatens to pose significant climate risks.
Alana Westwood, assistant professor at the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University noted that the regulations in the Canadian province are behind times and is unable to exert control over rampant mining activities, which has flourished at an alarming magnitude over the past few years. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of open pits that extract small traces of gold.
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In 2013, the number of active mining licenses totalled 158 in Nova Scotia. These covered just 1.5% of the province’s total surface. As of today, there are more than 2,000 active licenses covering nearly 20% of the province’s total mass. In certain regions of the province, mining exploration licenses cover up to 50% of the total land mass.
Out of the four completed mines, two are gold mines. Also, two other gold mines are in progress to be completed.
The province last updated its environmental regulations in 1995. These regulations don’t require companies to consider climate change or impacts on Indigenous peoples and nearby communities. The regulations need to be updated so as to close the existing gap.
