Since the term was coined, environmental advocates have raised alarm over the growing frequency of global sacrifice zones—regions that have been permanently impaired by environmental damage or economic disinvestment. These areas, disproportionately located in low-income regions and marginalized communities, endure environmental degradation caused by industries such as mining, oil, drilling, and hazardous waste disposal. The term “sacrifice zone” highlights the systemic trade-offs where profits and industrial development are prioritized over communities' health, rights, and sustainability. 

​

For instance, communities in the Niger Delta face severe health and economic challenges due to decades of oil spills. Similarly, in Chile’s Atacama Desert, lithium mining for renewable energy technologies has drained vital water resources, threatening the survival of Indigenous populations. Global sacrifice zones intersect critical global topics, including humanitarian issues, environmental conservation, and environmental justice. Delegates will have the opportunity to explore their nations’ policies, work with other delegates, and propose solutions to balance industrial demands with the protection of human and environmental health.