The Criticality of Gender Equality in the Race for Critical Minerals

The report argues that the surge in demand for critical minerals essential for the energy transition and digital economy risks amplifying existing gender inequalities. It identifies three compounding risk factors: specific environmental impacts (such as water scarcity and pollution), the high concentration of mineral reserves on Indigenous and agricultural lands, and the trend toward accelerated permitting processes. To mitigate these, the report recommends that stakeholders apply intersectional gender analysis in impact assessments, ensure inclusive consultation and free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), and establish gender-equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, including fair land compensation and inclusive employment practices.

• The mining sector is heavily male-dominated, with women's employment in large-scale mining estimated globally between 12% and 15%. Women are typically concentrated in lower-paying administrative or support roles and are underrepresented in managerial and C-suite positions.
• Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a critical income source for women, with women comprising 30% to 50% of the global ASM workforce. However, they are often confined to the lowest-paid and most hazardous roles and face high risks of gender-based violence and exploitation.
• Critical mineral extraction causes pronounced environmental impacts that disproportionately affect women due to their roles in water collection and food security. For example, brine-based lithium extraction requires approximately 2 million litres of water per tonne, exacerbating water stress in semi-arid regions like the Lithium Triangle (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile).
• A high percentage of critical mineral projects are located on or near Indigenous and agricultural lands. Specifically, 90% of graphite, 87% of lithium, 78% of copper, 76% of nickel, and 72% of cobalt projects are situated on Indigenous Peoples lands, agricultural lands, or both.
• There is a significant gap in corporate policy regarding gendered impacts on communities. A review of 43 critical mineral companies found that only five had publicly available policies for assessing gendered impacts on local communities, and only two committed to gender-responsive free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC).
• Governments are increasingly fast-tracking permitting processes to secure mineral supplies, which may compromise human rights and gender due diligence. For instance, the European Union's Critical Raw Materials Act aims to ensure permitting timelines for strategic extraction projects do not exceed 27 months.
• The report recommends three primary strategies to safeguard women's rights: applying intersectional gender analysis in impact assessments, requiring inclusive consultation to secure consent, and establishing gender-equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms.
• Gender-equitable benefit sharing should include removing barriers to employment, ensuring fair land compensation that recognizes women's tenure, and implementing community development programs led by women.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2026). The Criticality of Gender Equality in the Race for Critical Minerals. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-05/gender-equality-in-race-for-critical-minerals.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. The Criticality of Gender Equality in the Race for Critical Minerals. 2026. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-05/gender-equality-in-race-for-critical-minerals.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=The Criticality of Gender Equality in the Race for Critical Minerals |date=May 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-05/gender-equality-in-race-for-critical-minerals.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2026criticality, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{The Criticality of Gender Equality in the Race for Critical Minerals}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-05/gender-equality-in-race-for-critical-minerals.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }