anglo – american plc: financing the summit, plundering the earth

The briefing by Friends of the Earth International criticizes Anglo-American Plc for environmental degradation and social injustice in its mining operations. In Zambia, the company is accused of polluting water and air, and securing secret agreements to avoid liability for pollution. In Peru, its planned copper mine threatens water scarcity and the livelihoods of local farmers. The document highlights the company's failure to comply with OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and calls for an international framework for corporate accountability.

• In Zambia, Anglo-American's copper mining operations have caused significant environmental and health issues, including polluted tailings dams that foster malaria-carrying mosquitoes and the release of heavy metals and chemicals into the air and water, which are linked to cancer, birth defects, and respiratory problems.
• During the privatization of Zambian copper mines in 2000, Anglo-American obtained secret agreements that granted it legal immunity or indemnity for 20 years regarding past and future pollution, effectively sidestepping environmental protection laws.
• A proposed copper mine in southern Peru by the Quellaveco Mining Corporation (an Anglo subsidiary) threatens to exacerbate water scarcity in a dry region, potentially degrading water quality through contaminants and destroying the Chilota wetland.
• The environmental impact assessment for the Peruvian mine is described as seriously inadequate by World Bank criteria, lacking reliable data and long-term effect analysis, while government oversight of water use is largely nonexistent.
• Anglo-American is accused of violating the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which require companies to protect public health and the environment to contribute to sustainable development.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2002). anglo – american plc: financing the summit, plundering the earth. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Anglobriefing.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. anglo – american plc: financing the summit, plundering the earth. 2002. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Anglobriefing.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=anglo – american plc: financing the summit, plundering the earth |date=August 2002 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Anglobriefing.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2002anglo, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{anglo – american plc: financing the summit, plundering the earth}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2002}, month = aug, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Anglobriefing.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }