Yogyakarta, September 3, 2025—As countries around the world navigate the challenge of fostering growth and addressing climate change, the governance of the mining sector will have profound implications for environmental sustainability, economic growth, and social justice. Addressing this issue, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), sponsored by the Academy of Medical Sciences, together with the University of Essex, as well as leading universities and institutes in Australia, South Africa, Kenya, and Europe, collaboratively hosted a networking conference titled “Climate Geopolitics and Sustainable Mining Governance” on September 3-4, 2025.
Held at FISIPOL UGM, the conference brought together political scientists, legal scholars, environmental scholars, and economists to provide an interdisciplinary analysis of the challenges and opportunities within this discourse. The conference raised a key question: what types of mining governance frameworks are currently emerging in various countries.
This conference is expected to provide a forum for discussion that addresses how global trade interests shape local struggles over resource governance and environmental protection.
The conference opened with a roundtable discussion titled “Geopolitical Shifts, Mineral Resources Trade, and Diplomacy,” followed by panel sessions. Contributors on each panel explored various related issues and shared their findings with an audience of academics and policymakers. The panels were divided into three topics: “Environmental Risk Assessment and Sustainable Mining” and “Governance of Natural Resources and the Unequal Distribution of Mining-Related Risks” on the first day, and “Green Energy Investments and Mineral Resource Partnerships” on the second day.
This conference is not only a platform for academic discourse but also a vital opportunity to build global partnerships. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders, the event aims to create a collaborative environment that fosters the exchange of knowledge and innovative solutions to pressing global challenges.
In conclusion, the holding of the Networking Conference: Climate Geopolitics and Sustainable Mining Governance at FISIPOL UGM is a significant step towards addressing the complex interactions between mining governance, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.