SusNi - Developing a Sustainable pathway for the Philippine Nickel sector

到2030年，全球对镍的需求将迅速增长，主要是由于其在可充电电池中的使用，这是汽车电气化和清洁能源技术所需的，是全球脱碳运动的一部分。然而，有人担心，这种增长，加上矿物开采、加工和废物产生的环境后果，可能会增加对我们经济资源基础的压力，并危及未来的福祉。这对菲律宾等资源丰富的国家来说将是一个特别的挑战。作为世界第二大镍生产国，菲律宾拥有大量未开发的镍矿产资源，这一市场增长也为菲律宾带来了重大的经济机遇。然而，镍行业的进一步扩大必须以负责任的方式进行管理，并通过综合考虑环境、社会和经济因素来实现长期可持续发展目标。这包括最大限度地提高国家的经济效益，确保对当地生计产生积极影响，最大限度地减少和管理环境和健康影响，减少与其他部门的冲突，并限制碳足迹。菲律宾的镍矿开采部门已经面临着与环境影响、社会经营许可证和缺乏综合资源治理有关的相互关联的重大挑战。Caraga地区位于菲律宾棉兰老岛东北部，是该国镍生产最重要的地区。因此，它提供了一个很好的案例研究领域，根据战略环境和社会评估的概念，为长期、负责任和包容性的矿产开发制定一个有针对性的框架。通过为期五个月的合作和项目（称为SusNi -为菲律宾镍行业制定一条可持续的道路）发展赠款，英国地质调查局（英国）与菲律宾的卡拉加州立大学和矿业地球科学局（MGB）合作，将确定关键的知识差距，完善需要解决的研究问题，为卡拉加地区镍行业制定SESA框架所需的多学科伙伴关系。这些活动将构成提交一份完整的、共同设计的英国-菲律宾研究提案的基础，以获得一笔战略性大额赠款。

Global demand for nickel (Ni) will increase rapidly by 2030, principally driven by its use in rechargeable batteries, needed for automotive electrification and clean energy technologies as part of the global drive towards decarbonisation. However, there are concerns that this growth, coupled with the environmental consequence of mineral extraction, processing and waste production is likely to increase the pressure on the resource base of our economies and jeopardise future gains in well-being. This will be a particular challenge for resource-rich countries, such as the Philippines. As the world's second largest producer of nickel and with vast, undeveloped Ni mineral resources, this market growth also presents a major economic opportunity for the Philippines. However, further expansion of the nickel sector must be responsibly managed and meet long-term sustainable development goals by integrating environmental, social and economic considerations. This includes maximising the economic benefits to the country, ensuring positive impacts on local livelihoods, minimising and managing environmental and health impacts, reducing conflicts with other sectors, and limiting carbon footprint. The Ni mining sector in the Philippines already faces substantial interconnected challenges related to environmental impact, social licence to operate and a lack of integrated resource governance. The Caraga Region, occupying the north-eastern part of Mindanao in the Philippines, is the most important part of the country for Ni production. It therefore provides an excellent case study area to develop a tailored framework for long-term, responsible and inclusive mineral development, based on the concept of Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA). Via a five-month partnership and project (called SusNi - Developing a Sustainable pathway for the Philippine Nickel sector) development grant the British Geological Survey (UK), working with Caraga State University and the Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in the Philippines will identify the key knowledge gaps, refine the research questions that need to be addressed, and bring on board the multidisciplinary partnerships required to develop a SESA framework for the Ni sector in the Caraga Region. These activities will form the basis for submitting a fully developed, co-designed UK-Philippine research proposal for a strategic large grant.