Rising copper demand fuels concern over pollution and rights abuses

According to new data, the global demand for copper is expected to increase by over 40% by 2040 to support the energy transition. This surge in demand for copper, a crucial mineral in producing electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, has raised concerns about the environmental and human rights risks associated with its extraction.

In a recent Global Trade Update, the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) projected that meeting this demand would require the development of 80 new copper mines and an investment of $250 billion by 2030. The report emphasized the importance of copper as a strategic asset for the green and digital economy and highlighted the need for sustainable practices in the industry.

A separate study by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) revealed that copper mining has been linked to numerous human rights abuses, with 513 allegations recorded between 2010 and 2024. These abuses are a part of a larger issue surrounding the extraction of key transition minerals essential for clean energy technologies.

The urgency of the energy transition should not be used as justification for unethical practices in the mining sector, warned experts. They emphasized the importance of addressing human rights abuses, environmental destruction, and community conflicts associated with the extraction of minerals like copper.

The report also highlighted the concentration of copper reserves in a few countries and the negative impacts of copper mining on local communities and Indigenous Peoples. Efforts to address these issues include promoting human rights policies within mining companies and ensuring fair treatment of workers throughout the supply chain.

As the world accelerates its transition to clean energy, it is essential to prioritize sustainable practices in mineral extraction to avoid exacerbating human rights violations and environmental degradation.