The UK Government’s critical minerals agenda is driving vast increases in mineral demands, with devastating environmental and human rights impacts for mining-affected communities and workers across global supply chains. The government’s approach has largely been imposed in a top-down manner, with limited alignment between UK and devolved nation plans and policies. This report assesses UK and devolved nation policies relating to critical minerals across a range of areas from trade agreements and energy plans to industrial and military strategies. It makes a range of recommendations geared towards minimising the UK’s mineral demands, tackling the impunity of British-listed corporations and embedding supply chain justice.
The report was written jointly by Friends of the Earth Scotland, Friends of the Earth England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the Trade Justice Movement, the London Mining Network and Common Weal.