Media Contact:
Contact: Claire Hermann, +1 (202) 601-3043, chermann@earthworksaction.org
Today, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals released its final report, Resourcing the Energy Transition: Principles to guide critical energy transition minerals toward equity and justice.
In many respects, the report makes progress toward highlighting what is necessary for a truly just and equitable transition to renewable energy. There are also opportunities for further action to minimize the severe impacts of mineral extraction on Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities and the environment.
What the report gets right
- The report recognizes that the urgent need to transition to renewable energy cannot justify irresponsible practices at any point in the supply chain, from mining to recycling. Its guiding principles affirm that no one should be left behind without fair treatment, legal redress, and the chance to meaningfully participate in decision-making. This critical principle must guide the transition to renewable energy.
- The report also recognizes the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent for Indigenous Peoples and other rights holders with ancestral ties and rights to the land. This recognition is a crucial step. Indigenous Peoples are mentioned throughout the document, giving much-needed visibility to communities at risk from mining for transition minerals. Unfortunately, the report undermines its commitment to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent by adding that nations should seek this consent “while taking into account national specificity and legal context.” Despite the references to Indigenous Peoples throughout the text, there is no Actionable Recommendation put forth regarding the respect for Indigenous rights. The global commitment to the rights of Indigenous Peoples to consent to projects affecting their lands, territories and resources must be absolute and without conditions.
Opportunities to do more
- While the report mentions circularity and materials efficiency, it fails to go further and highlight the need to reduce overall transition minerals demand. This can be achieved through strategies such as robust public transit, smaller vehicles, and more. These strategies come with myriad social and environmental benefits while reducing the need for new mineral extraction.
- The report calls for mine waste to be safely managed, which is necessary for communities’ health and safety and for the environment. However, it says waste should be managed in accordance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management, a weak, industry co-opted standard that doesn’t keep communities safe from disasters like dam failures. More rigorous guidelines, such as those found in the publication Safety First, are necessary to safeguard lives and prevent adverse impacts from mine waste.
“The Panel’s principles make important steps forward, acknowledging the urgent necessity of a just transition to renewable energy and the centrality of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. However, the report misses the mark by not highlighting the necessity of demand reduction from Global North countries’ to curb mining impacts on Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities and fragile ecosystems. This leaves room for continued improvement during the implementation of the Panel’s actionable recommendations,” said Jennifer Krill, Executive Director at Earthworks.
