The European Commission recently proposed a regulation called the Critical Raw Materials Regulation (CRMR) to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials for the EU’s digital and green transitions.
However, this position paper by SOMO points at ten reasons why this proposed regulation is not sustainable. The CRMR fails to address Europe’s unsustainable consumption, exacerbates human rights and environmental risks, and perpetuates an economic framework where resource-rich countries are merely suppliers.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch published a question-and-answer document warning against relying solely on voluntary audits and certifications in EU mineral supply chains and recommending stakeholder involvement and strict regulatory monitoring and enforcement. Read more >>
