Mining for metals to build electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and electric grids linked to more than 300 incidents of violence, protest and deaths between 2021 and 2023.
New Global Witness analysis shows that mining for metals to build renewable technologies necessary to meet critical climate targets, is sparking social unrest and violence – from Argentina to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia.
Incidents include deadly clashes between protesters and police, communities who have lost their land, peaceful marches, artisanal miners angry about working conditions, and people who want to protect the environment.
The majority of the unrest linked to "transition minerals" is taking place in less-wealthy countries, yet it is companies from wealthier countries and countries consuming the most minerals that are capturing most of the profits. Our new report, produced in partnership with African Resources Watch (AFREWATCH) and Jaringan Advokasi Tambang (JATAM), found:
- 334 incidents of violence or protest between 2021 and 2023, that’s 111 incidents per year on average.
- Almost 90% of incidents were in countries with emerging and developing economies.
- 71% to 81% of the mining production is controlled by companies from advanced economies or major consumer countries.
- Between 2021 and 2028, copper mining is estimated to increase by over 25%, cobalt over 100%, lithium over 300% and nickel over 75%.
As global leaders meet at COP29 and the Paris Peace Forum, Global Witness is calling for:
- Countries where minerals are consumed and where mining companies are based should share the benefits of mining with producer countries and adopt and enforce standards to protect the rights of people and the environment affected by mining.
- Countries where mining happens should enforce laws protecting human rights, labour rights, and the environment affected by mining, including ensuring meaningful public participation during decisions about whether mining should happen and that rights to free, prior and inform consent are respected.
- Consumer and producer countries should work together to monitoring and remedy the human rights and environmental impacts of transition mineral mining.
- Countries should meet essential climate targets while stemming consumption of critical minerals by prioritising energy efficiency and switching to circular economies.
Emily Iona Stewart, Head of Policy and EU relations at Global Witness:
“The fight against the climate emergency is a fight to save humanity and the planet. The energy transition must not to come at the expense of people, especially those in less wealthy countries who are already suffering the most from extreme weather and damaged infrastructure. It is vital that mining for transition minerals is done in a responsible and sustainable way. The world will be a less stable, less just place if transition mineral mining further increases inequality between the world’s poorer and wealthier countries.”
Notes to editor:
- Access full report: Critical mineral mines tied to 111 violent incidents and protests on average a year. Global Witness has produced an interactive tool, In numbers: Critical mineral production, ownership, and social unrest, showing how much production is set to increase, the nationalities of mining companies, the locations of active mines, and protest and violence events taking place in the top 10 countries producing the four key transition minerals.
- Methodology: To identify unrest events linked to mining, Global Witness analysed reports collected by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), which collects political violence and protest reports. We also analysed data from S&P Global, a leading commodity data provider, to determine who owns mining production. For the full methodology, see our full report.
Country case studies
Indonesia
Jaringan Advokasi Tambang / Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM)
JATAM is an Indonesian-based network of non-governmental organisations working on human rights, gender, the environment, indigenous people and social justice in relation to mining.
The Indonesian government claims to support a clean energy transition but the country’s extractive industries depend on a patronage political system, where politicians, public officials and business elites are deeply intertwined. High-ranking officials have vested interests in mining, leading to laws that favour the extractive sector and suppress community opposition.
In 2024, JATAM has advocated for the victims of eight mining conflicts, with up to 40 people persecuted through criminal threats. They were persecuted under several laws and articles, including the crimes of sedition, defamation and criminal violence against authorities, none of which were committed.
At the same time, the Indonesian government has responded to the global energy transition by implementing a series of measures described as clean, green and sustainable. However, instead of phasing out fossil fuels, which are intrinsically linked to environmental destruction and the displacement of communities, the Indonesian government has promoted numerous extractive policies that continue to depend on fossil fuels.
Ultimately, Indonesia's energy policies prioritise economic interests over human rights and environmental sustainability, undermining a just energy transition.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
L’Observatoire Africain des Ressources Naturelles/ African Resources Watch (AFREWATCH)
AFREWATCH is based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and advocates for fair exploitation of natural resources in Africa.
The DRC, rich in transition minerals like cobalt and copper, paradoxically struggles with poverty despite its mineral wealth. Mining activities, while crucial for the global energy transition, have resulted in severe socio-environmental challenges, including human rights violations, pollution and displacement of local communities without compensation.
In regions like Kolwezi, Lualaba province, toxic waste from mining has contaminated water sources, causing health issues such as skin rashes, respiratory problems and miscarriages. Other residents of Kolwezi have been relocated by a mining company, with relocated communities saying they have "lost everything, we live in precarious socio-economic conditions, without any of our previous security."
Civil society organisations urge the government to enforce environmental and human rights standards, ensure fair relocation processes, and promote local processing of minerals to support industrialisation and improve living conditions for affected communities.