Library | ESG issues

Mining (ex Fossil Fuels)

Mining (excluding fossil fuels) involves extracting valuable minerals like gold, iron ore, and lithium, essential for industrial and renewable energy applications. Sustainable mining practices minimise environmental harm, promote social and economic benefits, and mitigate risks linked to human rights and ecological impact, fostering long-term resilience and accountability.

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Sand and sustainability: An essential resource for nature and development

United Nations Environment Programme
This report identifies sand as the world's most consumed solid material, with 50 billion tonnes extracted annually. Valued at USD 569.4 billion in 2024, the market threatens biodiversity and ecosystems. The document provides 24 strategic recommendations to treat sand as a strategic national asset and improve environmental oversight.
Research
8 May 2026

Battery circularity: Innovation trends for a future source of critical materials

International Energy Agency (IEA)
This report examines global innovation trends in battery circularity and critical metal refining. It highlights a surge in patenting activity since 2017, led by Asian companies. The analysis covers policy drivers, recycling technologies, and the role of secondary supplies in enhancing supply chain resilience and environmental sustainability.
Research
1 April 2026

Critical minerals – The power factor in commodities

DWS Group
This report explores critical minerals as a structural theme rather than a cyclical trend. It highlights that bottlenecks in downstream processing and high geographic concentration, particularly in China, create strategic vulnerabilities. For investors, value-chain-based assessments are prioritised over short-term price movements to navigate this lasting global economic transformation.
Research
28 May 2026

Rare earth elements: Pathways to secure and diversified supply chains

International Energy Agency (IEA)
This International Energy Agency report assesses global rare earth supply chains and vulnerabilities. It highlights China's dominance, the USD 6.5 trillion economic risk from potential disruptions, and provides eight strategic recommendations to achieve secure, diversified, and resilient supply through international coordination, increased investment, and innovation in recycling and demand-side technologies.
Research
4 May 2026

India’s critical mineral imports in 2025 and a shift towards supply diversification

Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
This report examines India’s dependence on critical mineral imports for its clean energy transition. It analyses trade dynamics for cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, and nickel, highlighting a strategic shift towards supply diversification. Significant risks arise from geographical concentration, prompting India to seek resilient partnerships with various global suppliers.
Research
30 April 2026

Digging mining out of diesel dependence: Short-term options to enhance fuel and future-proof industry

Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
This report examines Australia's mining industry's heavy reliance on diesel and identifies short-term efficiency improvements to reduce consumption by 10–20%. It highlights critical roles for coal and iron ore sectors, explores barriers like the Fuel Tax Credit system, and proposes policy reforms to enhance national fuel security.
Research
1 October 2026

The economic value of decarbonising the Pilbara

Cyan Ventures
This report evaluates the economic impact of applying a A$50 million Fuel Tax Credit cap to decarbonise the Pilbara. It estimates A$7.1 billion to A$13.2 billion in economic value, including A$5.6 billion in induced investment, 16,800 cumulative jobs, and significant carbon abatement facilitated by common-user transmission infrastructure.
Research
10 July 2026

From voluntary to binding: Integration of sustainability standards and initiatives in public mining governance

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
This report examines the integration of sustainability standards and initiatives (SSIs) into public mining governance. Through surveys and case studies in Brazil, Madagascar, and Sweden, it demonstrates how voluntary standards complement mandatory regulations to address environmental, social, and governance risks, supporting policy formulation, implementation, and transparent reporting.
Research
24 July 2026

Realities of artisanal and small-scale copper and cobalt mining in Lualaba province, DRC

International Peace Information Service (IPIS)
IPIS and IBGDH mapped 51 artisanal copper and cobalt mines in Lualaba, DRC, employing an estimated 109,000 miners. The study finds few viable designated zones, cooperative elite capture, tension with industrial concessions, unsafe conditions, child labour and extortion by state agents, and recommends creating legal spaces for artisanal miners.
Research
21 September 2026

Assessing digital traceability systems for critical mineral value chains: Aligning upstream and downstream agendas

International Peace Information Service (IPIS)
This report assesses digital traceability systems for critical raw materials, evaluating their architecture, feasibility, and impact. It emphasises aligning downstream regulatory demands with upstream producer realities, recommending that traceability should support due diligence and inclusion—particularly for artisanal mining—rather than serving as a standalone compliance burden.
Research
1 April 2026

Leveraging copper for economic transformation: Policy choices for value addition in Zambia

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
This report examines strategies for Zambia to add value to its copper resources. It identifies expanding smelting and refining as immediate opportunities to increase annual exports by USD 3.7 billion by 2030. Success requires addressing binding constraints, primarily unreliable electricity, high finance costs, and trade logistics inefficiencies.
Research
22 April 2026

Raw power: China locks-in global dominance of critical minerals and metals with $120bn outbound investment surge

Climate Energy Finance (CEF)
This report details China's structural "Going Global" strategy, tracking over US$120 billion in outbound investment since 2023 to secure critical mineral supply chains. It examines China's refining dominance and provides strategic recommendations for Australian policymakers to build domestic value-adding capacity in the zero-emissions economy.
Research
19 March 2026

DERA Preismonitor

Deutsche Rohstoffagentur (DERA)
Published by the German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA), the Preismonitor provides monthly price tracking for over 80 mineral raw materials and 15 recycling materials. It serves as a vital tool for monitoring commodity market trends and assessing supply chain risks.
Online tool/database

Harmonized calculations methods for product carbon footprints and life cycle assessments in the mining and metals industry

This research presents methodological recommendations for harmonising product carbon footprint and life cycle assessment calculations across the mining and metals industry. Developed with the International Council on Mining and Metals, it establishes consistent guidelines for 17 aspects, including system boundaries, electricity modelling, and multi-output allocation procedures.
Research
11 March 2026

Stewardship in the critical minerals value chain: Assessing sustainability performance and risks in Asia

Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC)
This research examines sustainability risks in Asia’s critical minerals value chain, focusing on nickel, cobalt and copper. Utilising IRMA-aligned assessments and geospatial data, it highlights gaps between corporate policy and implementation, intensifying physical climate risks, and nature dependencies, providing actionable stewardship priorities for institutional investors in the region.
Research
15 June 2026

Tropical deforestation outlook: How market trends could impact the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia-Oceania

Profundo
This report evaluates market drivers of tropical deforestation across the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia. It analyses impacts from transition minerals, food systems, and fast-turnover products. The document outlines transition pathways and provides policy recommendations to address global trade and consumer demand trends through 2035.
Research
8 October 2025
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