Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Finsbury Park Trust, 225-229 Seven Sisters Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 2DA
The global rush for “critical minerals” is being sold as an essential step towards a greener future. Lithium and copper, among other minerals, are framed as the building blocks of clean energy, electric vehicles and a transition away from fossil fuels. But who really benefits from this mineral boom, and who bears the cost?
Unjust Energy Transition? Challenging the Critical Mineral Rush is an interactive workshop developed and delivered by London Mining Network that digs beneath the headlines to expose the realities of the mining industry worldwide. From water pollution and land grabs to human rights abuses and violence against communities, mining continues to cause catastrophic social and environmental harm, often in the Global South, and increasingly in the name of energy transition in the Global North.
This in-person workshop unpicks the self-serving narratives promoted by mining multinationals and governments, questioning the idea that drastically increased extraction is inevitable or necessary for climate adaptation and mitigation. Participants will explore how the concept of a just transition is being co-opted to justify expanded mining, and how existing power structures are being reinforced rather than transformed.
Through discussion, case studies and collective reflection, the session will also focus on alternatives. Participants will gain tools to critically challenge dominant narratives, understand the connections between mining, consumption and energy systems, and begin advocating for solutions rooted in justice, repair and reduced extraction.
This workshop is for anyone interested in climate justice, energy transitions, solidarity with affected communities, and imagining futures beyond extractivism. Spaces are limited so please RSVP.