You are here
Resisting Green Extractivism: The Unjust Cost of the Energy Transition: Mineral Extraction
By various - COP26 Coalition, December 2, 2021
A central demand of climate movements has been to move to ‘100% renewable energy’ — but this call could result in a new wave of green extractivism reproducing the same dynamics and practices that caused the climate crisis in the first place. There is a potential for widespread destruction and human rights abuses that could be unleashed by the extraction of so-called ‘transition minerals’ (those minerals which are vital to renewable energy replacing fossil-fuels, including cobalt, lithium, nickel and copper among others). How then do we transform our energy systems in a way that meets the scale of the challenge in a just and sustainable way?
Drawing on the specific experiences of partners in Asia, Africa and Latin America, through the session, we will seek to explain how that ‘green extractivism’ could be potentially worse for mine-affected communities. Grounded in international solidarity with those impacted by ‘transition’ minerals, we will develop a deeper understanding of the initiatives needed to ensure fair and just global supply chains for renewable energy technologies, and address the fundamental societal change needed to reduce our unsustainable material consumption. This session will bring together international partners from impacted and frontline communities with activists to formulate joint solutions to common struggles.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are not the official position of the IWW (or even the IWW’s EUC) and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone but the author.
The Fine Print I:
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are not the official position of the IWW (or even the IWW’s EUC) unless otherwise indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone but the author’s, nor should it be assumed that any of these authors automatically support the IWW or endorse any of its positions.
Further: the inclusion of a link on our site (other than the link to the main IWW site) does not imply endorsement by or an alliance with the IWW. These sites have been chosen by our members due to their perceived relevance to the IWW EUC and are included here for informational purposes only. If you have any suggestions or comments on any of the links included (or not included) above, please contact us.
The Fine Print II:
Fair Use Notice: The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of scientific, environmental, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc.
It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal or technical advice.
This site is not the official webpage of the Industrial Workers of the World.