CLIMATE ADAPTATION
> By Alisha Hiyate
planning for
EXTREMES Climate change is here and it’s affecting mining infrastructure and operations. SRK’s Samantha Barnes discusses how miners are adapting to the increased risks.
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SAMANTHA BARNES
JANUARY 2022
ost mining companies have committed to reducing their carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 in order to limit global warming. But mine sites are already experiencing the effects of climate change – and the recent heavy rains and flooding in British Columbia have shone a spotlight on the risks to essential infrastructure from extreme weather events. To find out how miners are dealing with the infrastructure risks and challenges associated with climate change, CMJ reached out to Samantha Barnes, a hydrotechnical engineer with SRK Consulting. In her work as a senior consultant with SRK supporting mine water management planning, Barnes’ job increasingly includes discussion of climate change risks to mine sites and planning to mitigate those risks. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 13
