Surging global demand for critical minerals will diminish protections for Indigenous rights, warn experts – APTN News

Apr 25, 2025

300 new mines needed globally to fuel green energy, AI and weapons.

A global race to secure critical minerals is threatening to unravel hard-won environmental protections and Indigenous rights, experts warned this week during the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).

Galina Angarova, executive director of the Securing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Green Economy (SIRGE) Coalition, said the world will need approximately 300 new mines by 2035 to meet rising energy demands.

In part, mining is driven by climate goals because critical minerals are needed for greener energy sources such as electric vehicles and solar panels.

Read More: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/surging-global-demand-for-critical-minerals-will-diminish-protections-for-indigenous-rights-warn-experts/