Transition minerals in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
A tracker from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre monitoring environmental and human rights allegations linked to 20 critical transition minerals across 16 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
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OVERVIEW
Transition minerals in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is a tracker and research initiative designed to monitor environmental and human rights allegations linked to the extraction and processing of critical minerals. As the region becomes a strategic alternative to Russian fossil fuels and Chinese mineral dominance, the tool provides transparency regarding the impacts of mining for 20 minerals essential to the clean energy transition, including lithium, copper, and cobalt.
Organisation behind the tool
The tool is developed and maintained by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRC), an international non-governmental organisation and registered charity that tracks the human rights impacts of over 10,000 companies globally.
What the tool does
The tool serves as a regional database and tracker that allows users to:
- Search for specific mining companies to view linked allegations of abuse.
- Access data on over 1,000 allegations of environmental and human rights violations recorded between 2019 and 2025.
- Analyse impacts across 16 countries in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.
- Identify affected groups, such as workers and local communities, and the specific nature of the reported harms.
- Read in-depth annual analysis briefings on regional trends and the “hidden costs” of the mineral boom.
Target audience
The primary audience includes human rights defenders, policymakers, civil society organisations, and researchers. It is also intended for investors and companies seeking to conduct human rights due diligence within mineral supply chains.
Relevance to finance professionals
Finance professionals can utilise the tool for several aspects of sustainable investment and risk management:
- Risk assessment – identifying operational, legal, and reputational risks associated with specific mining projects or companies in the region.
- ESG analysis – providing granular, third-party data on social and environmental impacts for corporate reporting or portfolio screening.
- Investment context – understanding the geopolitical and human rights landscape of the critical mineral supply chain essential for green technologies.
- Due diligence – supporting compliance with emerging supply chain transparency and human rights regulations.
