Transition Minerals Tracker: 2022 Analysis

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Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament

“Injustice and power imbalances between the Global North and countries endowed with mineral resources has long been the unfortunate norm. It is however now clear that the conditions of supply of key minerals for the energy transition must be fairer if we are to scale up renewable energy capacities at the speed required to avoid global climate catastrophe. It must not come at the cost of human rights – and we know it does not have to. It is critical emerging legislation on securing global mineral supply chains, such as the Critical Raw Materials Act, ensure mining companies clean up their acts. It is equally crucial that it seriously considers measures to curb demand for new minerals to reduce pressure on local communities in resource-rich countries”

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Transition Minerals Tracker: 2022 Analysis

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Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s Transition Minerals Tracker is updated annually to monitor the human rights implications of mining for six key minerals for renewable energy technologies and batteries: cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, nickel and zinc.

This global update analyses allegations of abuse from 2010 to 2022 and provides a snapshot of 2022 data.

Key findings

The Tracker has identified a total of 510 allegations of human rights abuse from 2010 to 2022, including 65 new allegations for 2022.
Human Rights Defenders continue to pay a high price. Over one-quarter (133) of allegations represent attacks against them, including 13 attacks in 2022.
Water intensity of mining operations increasingly threatens communities: over one-quarter (133) of allegations are related to either water pollution, water access issues, or both.
Corruption cases related to transition minerals are growing with 10 new allegations recorded in 2022 in the governance category.
Indigenous Peoples are affected by transition minerals mining operations. 49 allegations are related to abuses against them.
Mining workers are also at risk. Five worker-related deaths were recorded in 2022.
Mining operations have multiple real-world consequences. 82% (418) are associated with at least two types of impacts.
The right of local communities to live in a healthy environment is jeopardised by the rush to mine for more transition minerals. One fifth of all allegations (111) relate to impacts on the environment and on people who live there.
Over two-thirds of all recorded allegations include just 14 companies, which are among the largest and most well-established of the extractive sector. This includes ChinaMinmetals, Glencore, Grupo México, Codelco, Freeport McMoran and Solway.

Mutuso Dhliwayo, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Executive Director

“Communities in resource-rich countries who have already borne the cost of decades of irresponsible mineral extraction, are at real risk of paying again as the world pursues a rapid transition to renewable energy, dependent on these resources to power clean energy installations and batteries across the world. But as the Tracker demonstrates, they are also increasingly saying ‘no’ to an irresponsible transition, through protest and the courts to protect their rights. A human rights-focused transition, that centres Indigenous peoples, local communities and vulnerable workers, is the only way to ensure a global energy shift that is fair, so that it can also be fast.”

Responding to the climate emergency is a human rights imperative. With impacts of the global climate crisis multiplying quickly, particularly for Indigenous and other marginalised communities, it is crucial the energy transition does not come at their expense. Mining remains the most dangerous sector for human rights defenders in our 2022 global analysis of attacks.

Respect for human rights, recognition of hosting communities as equal partners and commitment by the Global North to curb demand for transition minerals should be reflected in policymaking, investment decisions and operational approaches.

This 2022 update highlights the urgent need for all actors to centre the just energy transition on three core principles:

Shared prosperity that builds worker and community rights in operations and supply chains
Robust human rights due diligence and worker, community, and defender rights protections
Fair negotiation between business, workers and communities, centring the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent.