Be it iron ore, copper, bauxite, nickel, cobalt, coltan or lithium: Germany and Europe are almost entirely dependent on imports for their raw materials, particularly from countries in the Global South. The raw materials are used in our cars, mobile phones, laptops, in the construction industry, but also in wind power and photovoltaic systems.

The problem is that only a few companies and people in mining countries such as Brazil, Peru, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Indonesia and China benefit from mining. Many other people there, however, pay a high price for our prosperity and luxury.

Indigenous communities in the vicinity of mines are not adequately consulted and are driven off their land. Forests are cut down and water, air and soil are polluted. Local residents lose their livelihoods in agriculture, fishing and tourism. Environmentalists and human rights defenders are often attacked, harassed or even murdered. In some countries, child labour and forced labour are not uncommon in the extraction of raw materials.

In addition, safety standards are lax - with fatal consequences. One particularly shocking example is the dam burst at an iron ore mine in Brumadinho, Brazil, in January 2019, which killed 272 people and contaminated the river system. A few months earlier, a subsidiary of the German TÜV Süd had certified the alleged stability of the dam.

In Latin America, Africa and Asia, we therefore support numerous human rights, Indigenous and environmental organisations that deal with mining and support those affected by mining projects. In some cases, we support partners by conducting research or providing access to legal advice. In addition, we have successfully lobbied in broad alliances in favour of the German and EU Supply Chain Act, so that local companies are now also obliged to respect human rights and the environment when sourcing raw materials.

We are also in favour of a fundamental change in our approach to raw materials and the promotion of a circular economy. This includes greater efficiency and recycling, but above all a reduction in consumption: for example, through longer or shared use of products, a right to repair and the renunciation of excessive luxury. A sustainable mobility transition is not limited to switching to electric cars, but also requires a drastic reduction in the number of cars. The energy transition requires a rapid abandonment of fossil fuels, but also a reduction in energy consumption, especially in the rich countries of the Global North. This is the only way to ensure a good life for all while respecting planetary boundaries.