54% of projects extracting clean energy minerals overlap with Indigenous lands, research reveals

54% of projects extracting clean energy minerals overlap with Indigenous lands, research reveals.

Vast quantities of minerals are needed to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. Minerals and metals are essential for wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries for electric vehicles. But Indigenous peoples have raised concerns about more mining on their lands and territories.

These lands are valuable ecologically and culturally. Their soils, and land cover such as forests, store carbon which helps to regulate the planet's climate. Typically, the lands are also intrinsic to Indigenous peoples' identity and way of life. Energy transition minerals are essential to tackling climate change. But First Nations people must have a genuine say in where and how they're extracted.

Free, prior and informed consent

Last year, Indigenous groups from around the world signed a declaration calling on climate negotiators at the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference to commit to sourcing transition minerals more responsibly.  Read more.