SDSG Publications & Reports
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2023
Solar Today Magazine Articles. SDSG is proud to announce that we have four featured articles in the latest issue of Solar Today, the magazine produced by the American Solar Energy Society. This magazine issue delves into the theme of minerals challenges and solutions. It explores the role minerals play in the energy transition and discusses constructive solutions to environmental concerns.
Read Article: The Biggest Piece of the Puzzle: Aluminum and the Energy Transition by Christopher Medary.
Read Article: Deserts, Water, and Lithium: Indigenous Rights in the Energy Transition by Verónica Morelli and Luke Danielson.
Read Article: Copper Crisis: Inequality and Conflict Put Global Decarbonization at Risk by Brian Wagenaar.
Read Article: Battery Minerals: Is the Energy Transition Dependent on the DRC's Cobalt? by Akua Debrah and Luke Danielson.
The Path to Peace and Development. The impact of mining on Indigenous peoples and their territories is a long and deeply troubling story. The search for mineral resources has been a principal driver of dispossession of indigenous peoples, the confiscation of their territories, and the dislocation of their subsistence economies. Though the Indigenous population is no more than five percent of the world's total, Indigenous communities occupy nearly 25 percent of the planet's surface, and their territories contain possibly 80 percent of our remaining biodiversity. This work is a collaborative effort among nine authors, which examines legal developments and lessons learned in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru in ensuring compliance with international human rights obligations and standards on consultation and consent. It analyzes over two dozen major decisions of superior courts interpreting and applying national obligations under international law, notably ILO Convention 169. Thank you to the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law for supporting the translation of this book from Spanish to English. You can read the Spanish version published by the Human Rights Institute of the University of Deusto in Spain here.
Seeking Compliance with Treaty Obligations to Recognize Indigenous Rights to Consultation. Multiple supreme court decisions in several countries invalidate actions taken without adequate consultation with indigenous peoples. Attempts to establish national regulations defining the consultative process have had different outcomes across the Americas. It is unclear how the private sector could or should participate in a consultation between government and the indigenous rights holders. Similarities, differences of approach and lessons learned in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru for ensuring compliance with international human rights obligations and standards on consultation and consent. See this presentation given by Luke Danielson in Mexico City at the at the 16th Special Institute on International Mining and Energy Law, Development, and Investment organized by The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, in cooperation with the International Bar Association Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL).
Impacts of the “Green Minerals Boom” on Indigenous Rights. Some of the most significant impacts of this minerals boom will fall on indigenous peoples, both in the U.S. and in other parts of the world. Indigenous Peoples own, occupy, or use a quarter of the world’s surface area. But they safeguard 80 percent of the world’s remaining biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples often lack formal recognition of their rights to lands, territories and natural resources, are often last to receive public investments in basic services and infrastructure, and face multiple barriers to participating fully in the formal economy, enjoying access to justice, or participating in political processes and decision making. It is important that this “green mining boom” take place in a framework that protects and respects indigenous rights. Justice requires this. So does avoiding delay in accessing needed minerals. See this presentation given by Luke Danielson at the Gunnison Library.
Indigenous Rights and the Green Energy Boom. Rapidly transitioning the global energy system from fossil fuels to renewables is considered necessary for addressing climate change. The demand for critical minerals is increasing dramatically as clean energy technologies replace traditional hydrocarbon resources. There is a long list of minerals associated with the green energy transition and each one has a story. Many of these stories involve impacts on indigenous peoples, lands and territories. Learn more in this presentation given by Luke Danielson at Western State Colorado University.
The Case for Prioritizing Bauxite. While there is much attention to critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and the new, exotic materials such as rare earths, the reality is that the biggest challenge to the green economy transition may be aluminum. Aluminum is one of the most widely produced and used metals on earth. The body of new Tesla is made mostly from aluminum, and the same can be said of many ‘energy transition’ products. This short paper outlines why learning how to reduce the negative climate impacts of aluminum production needs to be at the top of our priority list.
2022
Mining and the A Just Green Energy Transition. Relationships with mine impacted communities are a priority consideration in attempting to develop the supply of minerals needed for the energy transition. This is for reasons of equity, and a fair sharing of benefits and burdens. It is also for the practical reason that poorly handled relationships with communities have so often led to conflicts that have slowed or prevented mineral development. We cannot afford to let the energy transition be delayed by repeated disputes with mine impacted communities, especially where their demands are rooted in justice. At the 18th Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), SDSG’s President, Luke Danielson, made the case to mining government officials from 80 countries for community benefit sharing, local participation in-decision making and effective management of adverse impacts as key components of a Just Transition to a Green Economy. This is his presentation in Geneva, Switzerland.
In Situ Leaching (ISL) Uranium Mining: Could Namibia Overtake Kazakhstan? Uranium has established itself as a mineral of major strategic importance to the superpowers of the world, not only by its ability to provide a stable power source but also its nuclear weapon applications. In 2021, 45% of total world uranium production was was produced by Kazakhstan followed by Namibia (12%) and Canada (10%). Although uranium production has historically been dominated by open pit mining, due to decreasing uranium prices the production costs of many open pit uranium mines have compromised the profitability of these operations and forced mines into care and maintenance – this is particularly the case in Namibia. In the wake of decreasing uranium prices, in situ leach (ISL) mining, also called in situ leaching or in situ recovery mining, has become a standard uranium production method. Its application to amenable uranium deposits in certain sedimentary formations has grown owing to competitive production costs and low surface impacts. In 2000, ISL accounted for 16% of world uranium production, by 2021 it accounted for 66% of world uranium production - this is largely due to Kazakhstan producing the majority of the worlds ISL uranium.
In light of the above, Zach Kauraisa, a Mandela Washington Fellow for Young African Leaders doing a Professional Development Exchange at SDSG this summer, wrote a paper to look at Kazakhstan (as a leading producer of uranium by ISL) and Namibia (as a major producer of uranium by open pit mining), within the context of a shift in uranium mining from open pit to ISL. Considering proposed ISL operations in Namibia, his paper aims to identify whether Namibia is a competitive investment destination for ISL uranium projects in comparison to Kazakhstan and to explore the prospects of Namibia becoming a major ISL producer and a competitor for Kazakhstan in the years to come. You can read his full paper here.
Voluntary Standards and Certification in the Minerals Industries. Individual consumers do not buy copper concentrate or industrial diamonds, lithium, cobalt, or met coke for personal use. They buy final products that minerals have been used to create and historically have known almost nothing about the origins of the minerals in their supply chains and how they are produced. But increasingly, people care where things are coming from. Individual consumers, manufacturers who buy minerals, financial institutions and investors increasingly want to know. Some insurers and governments want to know. Learn more in this presentation given by Luke Danielson at the International MetCoke Summit in Bogota, Columbia.
2020
A policy primer on Renewable Energy Credits. Understanding a Key Tool in the Transition to Renewable Energy and a Low Carbon Future.
The Toll Beyond Coal. Who Bears the Cost of Coal Plant Decommissioning and Coal Ash Disposal? SDSG prepared this study assessing the costs of transitioning to a renewable energy infrastructure, specifically the retrofit and closure of coal ash ponds and how the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) may be preparing for such a transition.
2019
A Renewable Energy Future for Colorado Communities Served by the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska. SDSG completed this study intending to help citizens, businesses and public officials understand the opportunities for development of more renewable electricity in 13 relatively small Colorado communities.
2016
Release of Joint Report Planning for the Economic Future of Colorado’s Coal Communities
SDSG, together with the Mountain Pact, is pleased to release the report Planning for the Economic Future of Colorado’s Coal Communities. This report focuses on two key questions: First, to the extent that we do use coal, what federal, state, and local policies can ensure that the benefits of coal production are maximized? Second, what are the options for a sustainable, positive future for coal-dependent communities?
2012
12 Indicators of Risk Sustainable Development Strategies Group has developed a list of twelve major indicators of risk in order to allow for rapid assessment of project risk.
TABLE 1 Report of the Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development Project. Luke Danielson. 2012.
2011
CHILE and the OECD presentation. Natural Resources and Development. Chile's Potential Contribution to the OECD. Luke Danielson. Alberto Hurtado University, Santiago, Chile, October 4, 2011.
IBRAM Brazil presentation. Mining and Its Role in Sustainable Development: Where do we stand in 2011? Luke Danielson. IBRAM, Belo Horizonte, September 29, 2011.
Amsterdam CDA Presentation. Expert Meeting-Mining Community Development Agreements. Problems and Issues to Overcome. Luke Danielson. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. June 10, 2011.
2010
Anchorage Presentation Sustainable Development & Large Scale Mining: Twelve Challenges. Luke Danielson & Kristi Dorr. Keystone Institute, Anchorage, Alaska, December 3, 2010.
Sustainable Development & The Research Agenda Power Point Presentation (in pdf format) Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources, University of Arizona. Pathways to Sustainable Development. Workshop 2. Creating Dialogue in a Research Agenda for Sustainable Resource Development. See the Outline.
Pillage of Natural Resources. Luke Danielson and Kristi Dorr. Pillage of Natural Resources: The Long Road from Coercion to Consent, The Hague, Netherlands, October 29-30, 2010. The Compilation of International Standards for Mining can be found here.
Chile Report. Luke Danielson, Patricia Nelson & Marketa Zubkova. Current Issues in the Chilean Mining Sector. Prepared for GTZ and Heidi Feldt in October 2010.
MMDA Public Finance Transparency Program. Power Point presentation (in pdf format)- The Model Mining Development Agreement. Public Finance Transparency Program. Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan, 25-26 August, 2010. (In Russian).
2009
Report: Integrated Mine Closure Planning in the Framework of Sustainable Development. Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (www.rmmlf.org), Mine Closure, Financial Assurance and Final Reclamation, November 16, 2009.
Mine Closure Planning in the Framework of Sustainable Development. Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (www.rmmlf.org), Mine Closure, Financial Assurance and Final Reclamation, November 16, 2009.
Allocation of Resources to Communities from Mining and Oil and Gas Operations. Luke J. Danielson. Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (www.rmmlf.org), International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, April 20-22, 2009, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2008
From Grubs to Gold and Geopolitics: The Many Layers of Violence at Grasberg. Report. Luke Danielson & Meadow Didier. A Case of Natural Resource Related Conflict. September 2008.
From Grubs to Gold and Geopolitics: The Many Layers of Violence at Grasberg. Power Point Presentation. Luke Danielson & Meadow Didier. A Case of Natural Resource Related Conflict. September 2008.
Development of Governance Systems for Sustainable Development and Conflict Management. Report. Luke Danielson & Meadow Didier. September 2008.
Development of Governance Systems for Sustainable Development and Conflict Management. Power Point Presentation. Luke Danielson & Meadow Didier. “.” September 2008.
2006
Architecture for Change. Luke Danielson. “Architecture for Change: An Account of Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development Project, History.” Global Public Policy Institute. Berlin: Global Public Policy Institute, 2006. www.gppi.net
2005
Evolution of Global Standards in the Extractive Sector. Luke Danielson. “Evolution of Global Standards in Extractive Sector: The Growing Role of the World Bank Group,” in Bastida, Walde and Warden- Fernandez (eds.), International and Comparative Mineral Law and Policy. Kluwer Law International: 2005.
The Next Generation of Challenges for Investors. Luke Danielson and Tricia Calhoon. “The Next Generation of Challenges for Investors.” Domani Research Institute, Dundee Mining Seminar, June 20, 2005.
2004
Project Level Dispute Resolution. Luke Danielson.“Project Level Complaint Management and Dispute Resolution Mechanism: An Essential Element of Effective Governance.” For presentation at Davis, Graham, Stubbs, January 15, 2004.
Mining Minerals and Human Welfare. Luke Danielson. Mining Minerals and Human Welfare: The Tasks Ahead (Keynote Address to the Meeting of Mines Ministers of APEC). APEC, June 2004
Mine Closure Planning Luke Danielson. “Mine Closure Planning: Past Present and Future.” 7 June 2004. 2004 Dundee Mining Seminar: Global Investment, Local Challenges 7-10 June 2004.
Sustainable Development in the Natural Resource Industries Luke Danielson, "Sustainable Development in the Natural Resource Industries: New Perspectives, New Rules, and New Opportunities," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Vol. 50, p. 14-1 (2004)
Sustainable Development, Natural Resources, and Research Luke Danielson. “Sustainable Development, Natural Resources, and Research.” Natural Resources and the Environment (ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources). Fall 2004.
Mining and Sustainable Development Cecilia Dalupan: Mining and Sustainable Development: Insights from International Law. International Comparative Mineral Law and Policy.
2003
Mine Veto James F. Cress and Ma. Cecilia G. Dalupan: Sustainable Development and Mining Laws: Is a “Mine Veto” Needed? Natural Resources and Environment, ABA section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. Winter 2003.
2002
A Sustainable Development Framework for Coalbed Methane Development Luke Danielson. “Sustainable Development Framework for Coalbed Methane Development.” Regulation and Development of Coalbed Methane (Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Mineral Law Series). Volume 2002, no. 4: Part 9
2001
Emerging Concepts of Governance in the Minerals Industry Luke Danielson and Patricio Leyton. “Sustainable Development: Emerging Concepts of Governance in the Minerals Industries.” Mining and Oil and Gas Development in Latin America(Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Mineral Law Series). Volume 2001, no. 3: Part 9.
2000
Current Regulatory Approaches to Mine Closure in the United States Luke Danielson and Marily Nixon. “Current Regulatory Approaches to Mine Closure in the United States.” In Environmental Policy in Mining: Corporate Strategy and Planning for Closure,by Alyson Warhurts and Ligia Noronha, 311-350. London: Lewis Publishers, 2000.
Mining Industry and Indigenous Peoples Rights Act Ma. Cecilia G. Dalupan: A Discussion Paper on the Mining Industry and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act. Trade and Investment Policy Analysis and Advocacy Support Project, March 2000.
1998
Luke Danielson. “Planning… and Mine Closure.” Mining Environmental Management, Vol 6(2), March 1998.
1997
Pangue hydroelectric project Jay Hair, Benjamin Dysart and Luke Danielson, Pangue Hydroelectric Project (Chile); An Independent Review of the International Finance Corporation's Compliance With Applicable World Bank Group Environmental and Social Standards, April 4, 1997.
Luke Danielson. “Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making.” International Resources Law: Today’s Oil, Gas and Mining Projects(Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Mineral Law Series). Volume 1997, no. 2: Part 11.
Environmental Impact Assessment for Natural Resource Projects in Latin America Luke Danielson. “Environmental Impact Assessment for Natural Resource Projects in Latin America.” Mineral Development in Latin America(Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Mineral Law Series). Volume 1997, no. 5: Part 9.
1983
Environmental Mediation John L. Watson and Luke J. Danielson. “Environmental Mediation.” Natural Resources Lawyer (American Bar Association Section of Natural Resources Law). Volume XV, no. 4 (1983): 687-723.
