Civil society activists say that the risk of great exploitation in the global rush of critical minerals should be addressed by the government because it formulates the official supply chain strategy.
They have said that Scrabble for Access is washed in washing as the richest economies around the world are trying to line up a group of minerals necessary to manufacture high -tech products, including cobalt, legium and nickel.
While the importance of such minerals for green transition is often described, as many importance indicates the manufacture of turbines, solar panels and other low carbon energy sources, that many demands come from industries in the field of consumer technology.
“In order to get a chance to succeed, the green transition cannot be built on the exploitation of poor countries by unpleasant companies,” said Cleopi Ricard, Global Justice Now.
“For this reason, the UK government must seize the opportunity to determine a new approach in the upcoming critical mineral strategy. This begins by identifying minerals that are really decisive at any end, and giving priority to public commodities for a green future – not the likes of arms companies’ profits.”
By 2040, the world is expected to need four times the number of critical minerals as is the case today, and while We dealt with Ukraine to reach its mineral wealth Newspaper headlines have collided, and deals have been quietly concluded around the world, away from the public’s interest.
The UK government has already signed incomplete agreements with Saudi Arabia, Australia, Kazakhstan and Zambia in an attempt to increase their mineral resources, and this year is preparing to spread the critical mineral strategy for a period of 10 years to support “tomorrow’s industries”.
But in a joint briefing issued on Thursday, 17 organizations, including the Movement of Commercial Justice, Global Justice, and the Corporate Judge and Friends of the Earth, say that without guarantees, the United Kingdom and other powerful countries risk sustaining a new new exploitation system that “sacrifices justice for comfort.”
Increasing the levels of mining needed for mineral extraction risk disrupting ecosystems and creating water scarcity, as well as violations of workers ’rights, violating the rights of the indigenous population and occupational safety and health issues.
They say that the new strategy must clearly differentiate between the minerals needed to transport energy, commitment to reducing extraction and the principles of the circular economy. It should also ensure that bilateral agreements with countries of products respect human rights and front and international work agreements, the United Nations declaring the rights of indigenous peoples, and the Paris Convention on Climate Change.
“The UK’s approach to securing critical minerals should not be repeated the past mistakes, as it left the motivation to extract resources behind a path of environmental deterioration and human suffering,” said Tom Wales, Director of Commercial Justice Movement.
“The UK is responsible for leading a sustainable and fair global transition to clean energy that prioritizes environmental protection and human rights. We cannot bear the sustainability of a system that sacrifices justice for comfort.”
The Ministry of Business and Trade has been contacted, responsible for the critical mineral strategy in the United Kingdom, to comment.
