abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb

Cette page n’est pas disponible en Français et est affichée en English

Rapport

17 mai 2024

Auteur:
Alejandro González and Bart-Jaap Verbeek, SOMO

EU: NGO report warns about the social and environmental risks of transition minerals trade policies

SOMO

"The EU’s critical minerals crusade: How the EU trade policy on raw materials deepens the environmental and inequality crises", 15 May 2024

The European Union (EU) is intensifying its efforts to achieve 'climate neutrality' by 2050, primarily through the electrification of mobility, which necessitates a substantial increase in the extraction of raw materials such as nickel, lithium, and other critical minerals. The report "The EUs Critical Minerals Crusade: How the EU trade policy on raw materials deepens environmental and inequality crises" published by the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) highlights how the EU's strategy leans on unequal trade agreements with resource-rich countries in the Global South, perpetuating a neocolonial dynamic. Key initiatives like the Green Deal Industrial Plan, the Net-Zero Industry Act, and the Critical Raw Materials Act aim to secure and diversify the supply of these essential minerals, often at the expense of environmental and social standards in the exporting countries.

Despite its green ambitions, the EU's approach is critiqued for prioritizing economic growth and resource-intensive technologies, such as electric vehicles (EVs), over reducing overall resource consumption. The EU’s high demand for raw materials exacerbates environmental degradation and social issues in countries like Indonesia and Chile, where mining activities lead to severe ecological and community impacts. The EU's trade policies and free trade agreements (FTAs) frequently undermine the ability of these countries to manage their resources sustainably, further entrenching their positions at the bottom of global value chains and reinforcing existing economic dependencies.

The report argues for a shift towards more sustainable and equitable practices. It calls for the EU to reduce its resource consumption and to implement strict regulations ensuring that mineral sourcing adheres to the highest social and environmental standards. Additionally, the EU should support local value addition in resource-rich countries, allowing these nations to benefit more from their own mineral wealth. The EU must also reconsider its trade policies to avoid reinforcing neocolonial patterns and instead foster genuinely mutually beneficial partnerships that respect the development needs and sovereignty of resource-exporting countries.

Chronologie

Informations sur la confidentialité

Ce site utilise des cookies et d'autres technologies de stockage web. Vous pouvez définir vos choix en matière de confidentialité ci-dessous. Les changements prendront effet immédiatement.

Pour plus d'informations sur notre utilisation du stockage web, veuillez vous référer à notre Politique en matière d'utilisation des données et de cookies

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Cookie analytique

ON
OFF

Lorsque vous accédez à notre site Web, nous utilisons Google Analytics pour collecter des informations sur votre visite. Autoriser ce cookie nous permettra de comprendre en plus de détails sur votre parcours et d'améliorer la façon dont nous diffusons les informations. Toutes les informations analytiques sont anonymes et nous ne les utilisons pas pour vous identifier. Outre la possibilité que vous avez de refuser des cookies, vous pouvez installer le module pour la désactivation de Google Analytics.

Cookies promotionels

ON
OFF

Nous partageons des nouvelles et des mises à jour sur les entreprises et les droits de l'homme via des plateformes tierces, y compris les médias sociaux et les moteurs de recherche. Ces cookies nous aident à comprendre les performances de ces items.

Vos choix en matière de confidentialité pour ce site

Ce site utilise des cookies et d'autres technologies de stockage web pour améliorer votre expérience au-delà des fonctionnalités de base nécessaires.