Corporations and the duty of care for nature?: an Amicus Curiae for the case of Lungowe & Others v Vedanta Resources PLC & Konkola Copper Mines

Gilbert, Jeremie and Vermeylen, Saskia (2024) Corporations and the duty of care for nature?: an Amicus Curiae for the case of Lungowe & Others v Vedanta Resources PLC & Konkola Copper Mines. In, Dancer, Helen, Holligan, Bonnie and Howe, Helena (eds.) UK Earth Law Judgments: Reimagining Law for People and Planet. 1 ed. Hart, pp. 171-188. (doi:10.5040/9781509970889.ch-009).

Record type: Book Section

Abstract

The case of Lungowe & Others v Vedanta Resources PLC & Konkola Copper Mines was examined by the UK Supreme Court in 2019.[1] The case concerns the impact of mining in Zambia and the liability of corporations for human rights violations and environmental damage. The claimants were 1,826 Zambian citizens who brought proceedings against Vedanta, a UK-domiciled multinational company, and its Zambian subsidiary, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM). The case followed the high level of pollution of the watercourse in the area surrounding Nchanga Copper Mine, one of the largest copper mining sites in the world. In their pleadings, the claimants argued that they had suffered loss of income through damage to their land and waterways due to the defendants’ toxic effluent discharges. They also claimed that they suffered personal injuries as a result of having to use and consume polluted water.

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