CAMEROON Law and Practice Contributed by: Aurélie Chazai, Paul Ariel Kombou, Vanina Fonga and Dylan Dave Tchouankeu, Chazai Wamba
Overall, these obligations are pushing mining com - panies to integrate more sustainable practices and align their operations with broader environmental and climate policy objectives. 3.2 Climate Change Legislation and Proposals Related to Mining To date, Cameroon has not adopted climate change legislation specifically targeting the mining sector, nor is there any officially disclosed sector-specific draft climate law currently under discussion. However, mining activities are indirectly influenced by Cameroon’s broader national climate framework. The country has ratified the United Nations Frame - work Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and has committed to greenhouse gas reduction objectives through its Nationally Determined Contributions. It has also developed national climate policy instruments, including a National Climate Plan, and established institutional mechanisms, such as the National Observatory on Climate Change, to support monitoring, adaptation, and mitigation initiatives. These instruments apply across all economic sectors and provide general guidance, but there is no mining- specific climate legislation at this stage. 3.3 Sustainable Development Initiatives Related to Mining Cameroon has implemented several initiatives aimed at integrating sustainable development principles into the extractive industry and broader economic plan - ning. Government Programme for Sustainable Mining (PRECASEM) The government launched the PRECASEM pro - gramme to promote more responsible and sustainable mining practices. It focuses on: • sustainable management of mineral resources; • compliance with environmental and social stand - ards; • improved transparency and accountability in the sector; and • better socio-economic outcomes for local com - munities.
This initiative seeks to align the mining sector with international best practice while reducing environmen - tal damage and enhancing investor confidence. “Green Mining Initiative” Under the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme Within the ACP-EU Development Minerals framework, Cameroon has promoted a “Green Mining Initiative” aimed at integrating environmental and social safe - guards into mining activities, particularly in artisanal and small-scale operations. The programme empha - sises climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, improved environmental governance and community- level engagement to mitigate negative impacts. National Commitments to a Green Economy Transition The country has committed substantial financial and policy resources toward transitioning to a greener economy. These efforts include forest protection, promotion of sustainable agriculture value chains, environmental resilience programmes, and support for community livelihoods, contributing to long-term national development objectives. Natural Resource and Biodiversity Conservation Programmes Cameroon, in partnership with international institu - tions such as the EU and FAO, is implementing pro - grammes focused on sustainable wildlife and natural resource management. These initiatives aim to pre - serve ecosystems, strengthen regulation, and improve socio-economic benefits for local populations. Community-Level and Civil Society Environmental Initiatives A number of civil society organisations and local NGOs are also active in environmental education, water resource management, mangrove restoration, climate resilience projects and community capacity- building, contributing to broader sustainable develop - ment goals across the country. Overall, while primarily policy-driven and often sup - ported by international partnerships, these initiatives demonstrate a growing institutional effort to embed sustainability principles within Cameroon’s develop - ment and resource-extraction framework.
50 CHAMBERS.COM
Powered by FlippingBook