SDSG NEWS: FOCUS ON COMMUNITIES, MINING, AND CLIMATE

Shiprock Peak (Tsé Bit'a'í to the Navajo) in Northwestern New Mexico. Photo Credit: Luke Danielson (2026)

Dear friends and colleagues,

Over the course of this spring and summer, SDSG has continued to build partnerships, produce research, and contribute to evolving policy debates that confront the spectre of a rapidly changing climate.

Mining policy has remained a core focus in this work as the demands of the energy transition have lent cover to accelerating resource extraction and the rollback of guardrails that are supposed to safeguard the climate, the environment, and human rights. In this vein, SDSG joined more than 130 organizations in signing a Joint Letter to United Nations Member States calling for greater protections and fairness in the ongoing critical mineral rush; we have also joined 40 organizations calling for a restricted areas framework for mining that would halt or restrict mining in key biodiversity areas, deep sea environments, and require the application of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles in the territories and waters of Indigenous Peoples. Though the climate crisis requires an urgent response, we are wary of false solutions that repeat past policy errors and trample on the rights of communities. 

In Colorado, we continue to engage in discussions at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission regarding Colorado's renewable energy policy and “Clean Heat” goals. Internationally, our team members have attended global conferences with partners and policymakers in Washington DC, London, Berkeley, and Jakarta to discuss a range of issues related to nickel mining, deep sea mining, decarbonization and governance in the mining sector, and the management of global carbon markets. 

We invite you to join us in our work to build a more equitable and sustainable world for all.

-- Bennett Jarvis, SDSG Program Manager



Iron Hill carbonatite complex, Gunnison County, Colorado (Credit: James St. John via Flickr, CC BY 2.0) 

"Raising the Bar Integrity and Impact with the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism” by UNclimatechange, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

EXPERIMENTAL SEABED MINING (credit: AK ROCKEFELLER via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0).

Participants visiting an abandoned uranium mine near Cove, Arizona (Photo L. Danielson).

“Blue Mesa Reservior” by Daveynin via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

SDSG colleagues have been busy this spring and summer attending hearings in Colorado, exploring unreclaimed mines in the Southwest, discussing policy on Capitol Hill, participating in climate conversations in London, and critical minerals conferences in Indonesia. Here the highlights:

Solar Power & Energy Storage Mountain West conference - Denver, Colorado

Sydney Christian attended the Solar Power & Energy Storage Mountain West conference in Denver, Colorado. Panel discussions zeroed in on the evolving federal renewable energy policies and the rollbacks that are shaping the industry, data center infrastructure buildout and how it’s affecting renewable energy policy, and Colorado’s Power Ahead program.

Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2026 - Jakarta, Indonesia

Yudha Jatmiko attended the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2026. The event was a strategic one for Indonesia given its position as the world's largest nickel producer and a growing hub for downstream processing for battery metals, energy-transition materials, and regional supply-chain development. Key discussions covered China's structural slowdown and its implications for commodity demand, HPAL nickel processing technology, battery materials supply chains, and commodity price intelligence across Southeast Asia.

Berkeley Symposium on Critical Minerals - Berkeley, California

Maria Guillamont spoke at the Berkeley Symposium on Critical Minerals. She was part of the "Research and Advocacy Roundtable on Developing Strategies for Human and Climate Justice" panel, where she discussed SDSG's work on nickel mining in Indonesia. She highlighted the unique problem that nickel mining poses in small islands, in contravention of Indonesia’s own laws, and how this affects global supply chains.

Capitol Hill Ocean Week - Washington D.C.

Maria also attended Capitol Hill Ocean Week, where she advocated against Deep Sea Mining (DSM). She was a speaker at Upwell, a conference focusing on ocean justice, where she led a discussion on utilizing social media for responsible mining advocacy. She also spoke to dozens of congressional officers, educating lawmakers on the possible environmental effects of DSM.

Colorado Public Utilities Commission Hearings on Gas and Electricity - Denver, Colorado

SDSG Legal Intern Maddy Bradley has been monitoring and engaging with various proceedings at the Colorado PUC this summer. Alongside SDSG Advisor Professor K.K. DuVivier, Maddy testified at a hearing for Xcel Energy's request to increase electric rates, arguing that PUC should cap Xcel’s profits to protect customers and incentivize Xcel to invest more in grid reliability. Maddy also submitted written public comments on SDSG's behalf regarding Xcel's request to increase gas rates for customers. Xcel intends to build out new gas infrastructure, and charge customers for it, making it unlikely Colorado could meet its statutory commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

London Climate Action Week in London, England

SDSG Program Director Bennett Jarvis participated in London Climate Action Week where he attended roundtable discussions related to community benefit sharing in the mining industry, events concerning global mining governance and the impacts of nickel mining in Indonesia, as well as talks on governance of international carbon markets.

This summer SDSG proudly welcomed four new interns. Find out more about Matthew, Molly, Nathan, and Madeleine's backgrounds here. If you are interested in applying for an internship, please reach out through the contact page on our website.

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you!

You can reach us at:

info@sdsg.org

www.sdsg.org