Campaign To Stop Gold Mining Around the World

Gold mining is one of the world’s most destructive and unnecessary industries – here’s how to end it​

The 16th-century King Ferdinand of Spain sent his subjects abroad with the command: “Get gold, humanely if possible, but at all hazards, get gold.” His statement rings true today. Gold remains one of the world’s most expensive substances, but mining it is one of the most environmentally and socially destructive processes on the planet.

Around 7% of the gold purchased globally each year is used for industry, technology or medicine. The rest winds up in bank vaults and jewellery shops.

Beautiful objects and stable investments are worthwhile things to create and own, and often have significant cultural value. But neither can justify gold mining’s staggering human and ecological toll. In a recent study, my colleagues and I showed how it might be possible to end mining and instead rely entirely on recycled gold.

Read the rest:

... nearly one-quarter of annual gold demand is supplied through recycling, ...

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That surprised me. I wonder if it is true.

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We found that a global decline in gold mining would not necessarily derail any of gold’s three central functions in jewellery, technology or as an investment.
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In order to make this future a reality, investors would have to limit their trading to existing reserves, without adding newly mined gold to their coffers.
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So... like Bitcoin... <ducks>

pmbug said:

That surprised me. I wonder if it is true.

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fwiw:

Recycling: In 2019, an estimated 130 tons of new and old scrap was recycled, equivalent to about 87% of reported consumption. The domestic supply of gold from recycling increased by 11% compared with that in 2018.

Sure, shut down gold mining, but be sure to keep those kids mining lithium and cobalt for your coal powered cars.