As global demand for minerals essential for the energy transition climbs, governments are increasingly vying to secure access. Yet the greatest threat to the energy transition may not be a shortage of minerals, but a growing shortage of public trust in how decisions about extraction are being made.

Governments' urgency to secure mineral supplies is resulting in fast-track permitting and lack of meaningful engagement, and is taking precedence over good governance, transparency and states’ duty to protect human rights.

This approach to mining creates a ticking time bomb which threatens the energy transition. As long as the individuals, communities and peoples affected by the transition mineral boom face harms and silencing, their extraction will continue to breed resentment, conflict, lawsuits and project delays, and will ultimately undermine democratic institutions and the already faltering trust in the politicians driving climate action.

At the very moment meaningful participation is most needed to sustain trust in climate action and advance a just, sustainable energy transition, those seeking to exercise their rights to information, consultation and public participation in shaping these processes are facing increasing criminalisation, harassment, strategic lawsuits and violence, as well as growing restrictions on their ability to speak up.

Governments can still get this right by recognising that participatory processes, transparency over decisions to mine and the intended end uses of minerals, corporate human rights and environmental due diligence, sound environmental and rights regulatory frameworks and the protection of human rights defenders, are not obstacles to be managed but cornerstones of democratic governance. Upholding them is both an obligation in itself and the foundation for the trust, legitimacy and durable public support on which a just and sustainable energy transition depends.