Introducing planetgold.org—a hub of information on ASGM

Welcome to the new planetGOLD programme website—your destination for details about the work we are carrying out around the world with funding from the Global Environment Facility to showcase the opportunity for developing responsible, mercury-free gold.

On this website you will find details about each of our projects and how they are helping to make artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) safer for human health and the environment. You will also find an ever-growing repository of resources and information showcasing experiences, knowledge gained, and materials produced by the global community working on ASGM issues.

It is no accident that we are announcing the launch of the website today, during the 3^rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP3). The planetGOLD programme was born out of a plan to support countries’ commitments under the Minamata Convention to reduce, or where feasible eliminate, the use of mercury in ASGM.

With planetGOLD our mission is to support transformational improvements toward making the ASGM sector safer, cleaner, and more profitable. We envision a clean supply of gold from ASGM miners, grounded in socially and environmentally responsible practices that will make this industry a safe and dependable source of livelihoods for the millions of people who rely on it. Together, we can make a world of difference in small-scale gold mining.

For the newcomers

If you are new to artisanal and small-scale gold mining and looking for a place to begin, I suggest starting with “ASGM 101.” This page gives an overview of the ASGM sector, including its significance in the global gold supply chain, the critical source of livelihoods it is for miners who rely on it, and the promising opportunities at hand to help ASGM become a cleaner, more responsible driver of long-term economic development.

Then take three minutes to watch our video below giving a snapshot of ASGM around the world and how planetGOLD is working to make it better.

For the practitioners

If you are already familiar with ASGM and looking for key resources to expand your knowledge and to support your own work in the sector, explore the growing library of publications and knowledge products housed in the Resource Library.

I invite you to also start getting to know each of the national projects featured here on the website. These country teams are carrying out critical work to support ASGM formalization, to improve access to financing that’s needed for miners to pivot away from mercury use, to increase miners’ knowledge of—and training on—better technologies and practices that reduce or eliminate mercury use, and to raise awareness among mining communities about the impacts of mercury use and the many benefits of transitioning to alternative methods.

What’s next

The launch of planetgold.org is just the beginning. New resources will continually be added to our library. Stories will be shared highlighting the mining communities we are working with and the promising solutions being piloted in each of the country projects. Events will be announced, and lessons will be shared.

To stay up to date sign up for our occasional email updates, follow the conversation about #planetGOLD on social media, and send us questions or feedback via the contact form on this page.

ASGM activities are growing to meet the steadily increasing demand for gold around the world. Therefore, this is a critical moment to rally around mining communities worldwide and work together to investigate and illuminate a path forward to a future with cleaner, more efficient gold—gold that’s good for miners, their communities, and the environment. Please join us.