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
Briefing

5 Sep 2019

Transition Minerals Tracker: Analysis of renewable energy mining companies' human rights practice

Shutterstock (purchased)

Visit the minerals tracker

Demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt, copper, and nickel is expanding as companies race to produce the technology needed to support the low-carbon transition, from electric vehicles to solar panels to wind turbines.

But companies’ human rights due diligence isn’t keeping pace with expanding exploration, increasing the risk that the transition fuels further abuse in an already troubled sector.

Today (5/9/19) the Resource Centre launches a new Transition Minerals Tracker tool providing data to investors, businesses and civil society groups to inform decisions and improve business practice in this vital field for tackling the climate crisis. 

The Centre has also conducted research on the human rights policies and allegations relating to companies mining cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, nickel and zinc, minerals that are crucial in the transition to low-carbon technologies (including solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries).

Companies were selected if they were among the top five global producers of one of these minerals, or alternatively, if they were among the top five producers of one of these minerals in the Southern Africa Development Community. The findings are available below.

August 2019 Snapshot

Learn more about the main concerns raised in the allegations recorded on the Transition Minerals Tracker, and how growing demand could exacerbate existing issues.

Southern Africa

Half of the top companies in Southern Africa producing six key minerals - lithium, copper, cobalt, manganese, nickel and zinc - have been accused of human rights abuses, from violating access to water and land rights to corruption, violence and deaths.

Read it here. 

 

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Data Usage and Cookies Policy

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.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Promotional cookies

ON
OFF

We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.