The Green Lie: Communities Expose the Myth of “Green” Mining at COP30. Logo of Yes to Life No to Mining.

“We call on all those present at COP30 to stop promoting the narrative of ‘green’ extractivism. A truly sustainable energy transition must be built from the grassroots — led by local communities and supported by scientists — not through expanding mining and destroying forests in Sulawesi, or polluting the rivers, coasts, and seas that sustain life and livelihoods in Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua.” - Muhammad Al Amin, Executive Director of local NGO Walhi South Sulawesi and YLNM member. “Deep sea mining is sold as vital for the ‘green’ transition and global security, but both claims are false. This is not about climate solutions—it’s about profit and militarisation. Mining the deep will cause irreversible damage to ocean life and ecosystems. For Pacific peoples, the ocean is life itself. We stand with them in calling for a global ban.” - Natalie Lowrey, Deep Sea Mining Campaign and YLNM member. “Global pressure for transition minerals has led to the expansion of mining frontiers without proper recognition of the Right to Say No of Indigenous communities and without sufficient knowledge of the impacts of Lithium extraction in new salt flats. The climate crisis worsened by transition mineral extraction cannot be solved without the full engagement of local communities, civil society, and scientists." - Ramon Balcázar, Plurinational Observatory of the Andean Salt Flats (OPSAL) Chile and YLNM member.

“Green extractivism” is not climate justice. It’s the next phase of the same destructive system, one that treats land and water as expendable and communities as collateral. As YLNM’s Principles affirm, the wellbeing of people and the planet depends on keeping the Earth whole, not turning lands, waters and oceans into sacrifice zones. From the salt flats of Chile to the forests of Indonesia to the Pacific Ocean floor, people are rising to yes to life and no to mining. yestolifenotomining.org

“Green” mining is the same old extractivism — destroying land, water and lives in the name of climate action.

At the People’s COP in Belém, members of #YesToLifeNoToMining from Chile, Indonesia and the Pacific are calling out #TheGreenLie - the myth that mining can solve the climate crisis.