In the fight against climate change, the world will need increased mining in order to build electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable energy technologies. It is estimated that demand for a basket of ‘critical’ minerals will, in a net-zero policy environment, triple by 2030. It is important for this increased mining to minimize its impact on the local environment, benefit local communities, and contribute more directly to inclusive, sustainable development. Many of these minerals are found in Africa, which is a historic player in global mining industries. Yet Africa’s priorities, as captured in the Africa Mining Vision and Africa Green Mineral Strategy, are to harness these minerals to create jobs, build new industries, protect the environment, and feed into the region’s own energy generation, food security and other vital areas. Countries are thus shifting from a business-as-usual boom-bust cycle in which minerals dominate external sectors but only have limited contribution to more developmental indicators.
In response to these pressing issues, ECA was selected by the German International Climate Initiative (IKI) to lead a consortium that brings together governments, communities, the private sector, entrepreneurs, youth groups and academic partners together to ensure that this ‘critical’ minerals boom brings about a positive change for those involved. In doing so, the project will work at the regional-level in Southern Africa, promote systems and policies focused on climate change mitigation and environmental protection, engage with civil society and traditional leaders to ensure benefit-sharing, and support new higher-value industries linked to the mining sector that create sustainable jobs and generate revenues for African companies and governments. The project will take place in six countries – the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The project duration will be five years, to bring about long-term impacts.
The project consortium includes ECA, the African Union Commission through the African Minerals Development Centre (AUC-AMDC); University of the Witwatersrand WITS Enterprise; WWF Germany (jointly with WWF Zambia, WWF Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association); the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR); and Projekt Consult GmbH. It receives financing through the IKI process from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN)
