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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece from The Guardian here or enjoy below!
🗞️ Driving the news: A report by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) reveals over 100 allegations of environmental and human rights violations connected to China's overseas transition mineral investments in 2021 and 2022
🔭 The Context: China, world leader in the processing of minerals essential for green-energy technologies, faces allegations of indigenous rights violations, attacks on grassroots leaders, water pollution, ecosystem destruction, and unsafe working conditions
🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: These alleged violations highlight the environmental and social costs of the green transitions
• Responsible and sustainable practices are necessary to ensure that the green transition does not perpetuate or exacerbate existing inequalities and environmental degradation
⏭️ What’s next: While China has recently introduced a mediation scheme for stakeholders to file complaints against companies in the minerals supply chain, the initiative lacks enforcement powers
• Moreover, global scrutiny is essential as Chinese companies supply transition minerals to Western companies, who share responsibility in due diligence
💬 One quote: “The energy and land needed for exploration, extraction and processing of transition minerals leaves behind a significant carbon footprint, characterized by human rights abuses and puts more strain on scarce surface and ground water resources,” (Eric Ngang, Global Witness)
📈 One stat: Of the Chinese firms implicated in the alleged violations, fewer than one in five responded to the allegations when approached by the Centre
• This compares to a 56% response rate from mining companies globally
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