As the world shifts its energy focus to renewables, a growing countermovement is emerging. An increasing number of Indigenous communities across the globe are taking ownership of their lands and reaping the benefits of energy transition minerals. According to a recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Indigenous lands contain about 55 percent of the world’s known rechargeable battery mineral reserves.
Not only are these minerals important for the shift to renewable resources, but they also bring huge potential for supporting Indigenous communities. Access to these resources opens up major economic opportunities in mining operations, jobs, and revenue. Plus, the industry is transitioning to a more sustainable and ethical mining model, removing the historical exploitation and pollution of Indigenous lands.
But the path toward a more equitable and secure future for Indigenous communities is still a long way off, as many of the minerals occur in remote and challenging areas. Access to these minerals requires extensive infrastructure, strong laws, and government support. In some cases, traditional methods of access, such as artisanal mining, are still not supported in many countries.
Once extraction operations begin, the concern is that these resources become coveted by outside entities, leaving Indigenous communities behind. That’s why there is so much interest in the developing standards for responsible mining, that would ensure that Indigenous communities secure their rights to resources and benefits, rather than being left out. This would include secure tenure, fair compensation for losses and damages, and full disclosure of environmental impacts and related risks.
In order for the share of minerals on Indigenous lands to be properly secured and maximized, awareness must be raised and collaboration between Indigenous groups, governments, and industries is absolutely essential. There are already some positive steps that are being taken, with partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders.
For example, The Western Energy Alliance is a consortium between American-based Indigenous communities and major energy companies, where they have agreed to ensure that the benefits of natural resource extraction directly benefit Indigenous populations, and adhere to industry codes of conduct and sustainability guidelines.
Even with these advances in motion, much work still needs to be done to ensure that the distribution of minerals on Indigenous lands is fair and equitable, without exploitation or environmental degradation. Indigenous communities must be consulted and included in local decision-making, and their rights to land and resources must be respected. Only then can Indigenous communities benefit from the potential of energy transition minerals.