Civil society concerns on EU critical raw materials plans. 28th September 2020.

...234 undersigned civil society organisations and academics write to express our deep concerns....

We are concerned with the overall narrative of the Action Plan where “diversified and undistorted access to global markets for raw materials” is central. The consequences for the environment and communities of this huge increase in metal and mineral mining is not clearly laid out – yet we know from experience and evidence that more mining leads to more biodiversity loss, more contaminated air, soil and water, lack of access to arable land and freshwater, displacement and eroded livelihoods, health impacts and more conflict. Paradoxically, the expansion of mining to meet growing demands for renewable energy and other industrial transitions in the EU and beyond threatens the efficacy of global action to address the climate emergency.

...We urge you to:

Make absolute EU resource use reduction a priority...

Respect EU communities’ Right to Say No to mining projects...

Ensure correct application and enforcement of EU environmental law by Member States...

End exploitation of third countries, particularly in the Global South, and effectively protect human rights...

New frontiers for mining...