“UN Panel Launches Principles for Responsible Mining of Critical Energy Transition Minerals”
The UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals has recently launched a set of principles aimed at guiding responsible and fair extraction of minerals essential for clean energy supply chains. The panel, convened by the UN Secretary-General, emphasized the importance of preventing human rights abuses in the mining of critical minerals that are crucial for the world’s transition to clean energy.
The report, released after five months of discussions, outlines seven principles to ensure the sustainable extraction of minerals such as lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements, which are vital for manufacturing renewable energy technologies like electric vehicles and batteries. With the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, the demand for these minerals is set to triple as well, posing environmental and social risks, especially for indigenous communities.
A study conducted in 2022 revealed that over half of critical mineral mining projects are located on or near Indigenous lands, highlighting the need for responsible mining practices. The Transition Minerals Tracker, run by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, has documented 630 allegations of abuses related to mining, with 30% of attacks against human rights defenders globally linked to the extractive sector.
The principles proposed by the UN panel emphasize placing human rights at the core of mineral value chains, safeguarding nature, sharing financial benefits with local communities, investing responsibly, ensuring accountability, and promoting international cooperation. To enforce these principles, the panel recommended actions such as setting up a high-level advisory group and a transparency system to shed light on mineral value chains.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the importance of grounding the renewables revolution in justice and equity to spur sustainable development and protect the environment. The panel’s report aims to establish a new norm in the mining sector, delivering shared benefits, value addition, and economic diversification for developing producer countries.
While the report has been welcomed by various stakeholders, including the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), some have called for more ambitious language and specific definitions in certain areas. Civil society groups have raised concerns about industry self-regulation and advocated for stronger government and international oversight in setting mining standards.
Moving forward, broader consultation on the principles will be conducted leading up to the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. The panel’s recommendations provide a pathway for governments to continue the dialogue and take concrete actions to ensure responsible and fair extraction of critical minerals for a sustainable energy transition.