Partnerships for Sustainability in Mining

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Mining is an essential part of the Global Solution to climate change. If global emissions are to reach Net Zero by 2050, in accordance with the Paris Agreement, a rapid expansion of cleaner energy technologies and electromobility is needed. Critical minerals, also known as ‘future facing commodities’, which were not widely used in the past, are now assuming a pivotal role in the global energy transition. Surging demands are largely driven by electric car sales which experienced a record-breaking year in 2022- with sales exceeding 10 million worldwide- and there is a predicted 35% year-on-year increase by the end of 2023, according to the International Energy Agency.

Latin America is well poised to capitalise on the critical minerals demand boom, given its existing production levels and its global share of reserves of the four critical minerals: copper, lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Chile, Peru, and Mexico hold an estimated 40% of global copper reserves, with additional reserves found in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador. Latin America is home to around two thirds of the world’s lithium reserves, which are primarily found in Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile; although Mexico, Peru, and Brazil hold smaller shares and host some exploration projects. The region also boasts some significant nickel reserves: Brazil hosts 17% of global nickel reserves and additional reserves are situated in Colombia and Cuba. It is Latin America’s lithium, copper, nickel, graphite, and rare earths that will facilitate the development of solar panels, wind turbines, EV batteries, and a plethora of other technologies needed for a greener future.

Given this context, this conference organised by Canning House, in partnership with Anglo-American, seeks to explore emerging mining practices in Latin America that reflect on social, environmental, and governance innovation through multi-stakeholder partnerships. Join us as we look to answer: How can the mining sector partner with local actors to better guarantee benefit to host communities and countries where they operate, and take advantage of the energy transition?