The briefing tracks 421 allegations of environmental and human rights abuses linked to mining and processing of transition minerals in 16 Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries from 2019 to 2023. The evidence demands urgent attention from international banks, investors, and companies involved, calling for a transformative approach to mitigate harm.

This analysis reveals extensive human rights and environmental abuses linked to Chinese companies overseas. From January 2021 to December 2022, 102 allegations were recorded by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. These findings, alongside similar abuses by North American and European companies, underscore the risks of irresponsible business practices on vulnerable communities, Indigenous Peoples, and migrant workers globally.

This briefing identifies abuses at different points of two important nickel supply chains in the Philippines and Indonesia -- and linked these abuses to companies such as Panasonic, Tesla and Toyota, two of the largest EV battery producers. The case studies included in the report are the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (Rio Tuba) in the Philippines and two Chinese companies operating in Indonesia (Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and CNGR Advanced Materials).

This report looks at the human rights commitments and actions of 15 banks (5 local, 10 international) linked to the financing of transition minerals extraction in South Africa. The research revealed these banks are failing to take adequate measures to avoid contributing to abuses in this particularly risky sector.

This report looks at examples of alleged rights abuse linked to transition minerals mining operations in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, with research carried out by our partner organisations Acción Ecológica, Corporación Geoambiental Terrae and Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente (DHUMA).

The briefing tracks allegations of environmental and human rights abuses linked to hydropower plants in Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan over the last 10 years. It provides evidence of human rights abuses and environmental damage, demanding urgent action from international banks, investors, and companies involved in these projects, and calls for a transformative approach to mitigate harm.

This briefing examines Kenyan case studies offering valuable lessons for Africa on achieving a just and rapid renewable energy transition. These cases highlight issues like rights violations, loss of livelihood, and lack of FPIC, leading to protests and project delays. For shared prosperity and sustainable development, renewable energy investors must uphold human rights.

Our 2021 Transition Minerals Tracker regional analysis explores human rights abuses related to the top producers for cobalt, copper, nickel, lithium, manganese and zinc minerals across four regions. Check our four regional deep dives, which examine data and case studies on transition mineral producers in Southern Africa, South America, Mexico & Central America and the Pacific.