The false promise of “responsible mining”

Washington, DC – In July, the Serbian government I repeat Permits for Rio Tinto’s lithium mining project were canceled in 2022 following public outcry. The decision sparked demonstrations, with thousands of people taking to the streets of Belgrade Fears The mine will pose a threat to water sources and public health. After all, Rio Tinto had already demonstrated its willingness to circumvent the country’s politics Environmental regulations.

Rio Tinto has a long history of… Alleged human rights violations and Poor water management and pollution In its mines around the world. But it’s not just Rio Tinto: corruption and negligence are rife in the mining industry. A US judge ordered Glencore to pay 700 million dollars in fines for its decade-long scheme to bribe officials in several countries. Mining giant BHP and its Brazilian partner Vale are linked Legal battles Regarding the collapse of the Fundao tailings dam – the worst environmental disaster in Brazil.

As the European Union plans Increase local mining From materials considered essential to the green transition, as well as many defense technologies and digital products, policymakers and residents are seeking reassurances that these efforts will be sustainable. To this end, the International Council on Mining and Metallurgy (ICMM) – an association that Rio Tinto helped found and which includes Glencore, Vale, BHP – and other major industry players is working to create a global standard, called the Harmonized Mining Standards Initiative. (CMSI), to certify minerals that are produced responsibly. Given their track record, can mining giants be trusted to set their own rules and hold themselves accountable?

Voluntary standards and certifications are not new. They exist across a range of industries, from agriculture to buildingMany of these initiatives already exist in the mining sector. In fact, the four associations that drive the CMSI – the International Council on Mining and Metallurgy, the Canadian Mining Association, the World Gold Council and the Copper Mark – each have their own assurance framework.

But the evaluations of these voluntary schemes, conducted by germanwatch, Mercedes BenzOthers, that most of them lack transparency, accuracy and oversight, and cannot guarantee the implementation of their requirements. In short, it constitutes a sophisticated form of greenwashing. In February, Lead the Charge published an article appreciation Third-party assurance and certification programs in the raw materials sector, evaluating each against a series of minimum credibility standards. Interestingly, only 16% of the criteria were met in the validation process of the International Commission on Marine Mining’s performance forecasts.

These failing grades have real-world implications for indigenous peoples, workers and local communities. According to Business and Human Rights Resource CenterICMM member companies, whether through direct ownership or joint ventures, represent more than half of the 20 companies responsible for the majority of alleged human rights violations in mining of critical minerals.

Policymakers and financial institutions are funneling billions of dollars into mining projects around the world based on voluntary certifications like the proposed CMSI. For example, the European Union Critical raw materials law These guarantees are used as a proxy for determining whether companies are sourcing raw materials responsibly. and 78% of automobile manufacturers These were evaluated in the Lead the Charge evaluation and have been reported to be used to inform sourcing decisions – particularly as the uptake of electric vehicles increases.

In fact, A Final analysis The proposed CMSI, conducted by indigenous groups, civil society organizations, and policy experts, highlights several gaps in the framework that would harm communities and, crucially, pose risks to automakers. The standard is divided into three levels of practice: foundational, good, and leading. But the foundation level requirements – it should be noted, companies are allowed to fall below within… Warranty process – Not consistent with international laws, legal rules, or widely accepted standards, such as the International Finance Corporation’s performance standards. Mining companies would thus not have to address serious human rights violations, which could lead to sanctions against automakers in the future.

Moreover, the draft standard does not protect the right of indigenous peoples Disproportionately affected By mining – obtaining free, prior and informed consent, derived from their right to do so Control its lands and resources And to Self-determination. The protection of this right should be a minimum requirement of the foundational level of practice. But the idea that respect for fundamental rights can be divided and divided into different levels of performance reflects the flawed design of the CMSI. This approach would cause further harm to indigenous communities, given that More than half of the important minerals On or near their lands.

Despite efforts by ICMM and its partners, including CMSI Advisory Group members such as BMW and Tesla, to market the standard as a tool for responsible mining, it is nothing more than an attempt by the industry to present a clean, green face to the world. general. If successful, the CMSI will consolidate the power and influence of mining giants such as Rio Tinto, Glencore and BHP, allowing them to act with impunity while offering false assurances to all key stakeholders.

Rather than achieving a just energy transition, CMSI would allow extractive industries to prioritize profit over clean air and water, human rights, and a livable planet, exposing Automakers, Governmentsand Investors Reputational risk. Given the growing demand for minerals to fuel the energy transition, setting high expectations and developing strong, enforceable rules for the mining sector is more important than ever.

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2024.

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