Minerales para la transición energética: propuestas de salvaguardas para América Latina sobre los principios de la ONU

The report identifies critical gaps in the implementation of mining laws in Chile, Colombia, and Peru, where energy transition mineral extraction often leads to human rights violations and environmental degradation. To address this, it proposes ten specific safeguards covering areas such as prior consultation, water rights, and the protection of environmental defenders. It advocates for a multi-level governance framework and international cooperation to ensure that the energy transition does not replicate historical extractivist patterns.

• The demand for energy transition minerals is rising sharply, with lithium demand increasing by nearly 30% over the last five years, while nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths grew between 6% and 8%. Copper remains the most versatile mineral, used in at least 10 energy technologies, and overall demand could triple by 2030.
• Case studies in Chile, Colombia, and Peru reveal a consistent gap between existing laws and their effective implementation on the ground. Common challenges include limited access to clear information, violations of human rights and collective rights, and a lack of binding participation mechanisms for communities.
• Water is a central point of socio-environmental conflict due to scarcity, contamination, and unequal distribution compared to mining expansion. In Chile, for example, there are significant disparities in water rights between mining companies and farmers.
• Latin America is identified as the most dangerous region in the world for environmental defenders; in 2024, it accounted for 82% of global murders and disappearances of such individuals, with Colombia being the most affected.
• The report proposes ten priority safeguards to ensure a just transition, including the institutionalization of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), the creation of 'no-go zones' for mining in sensitive ecosystems, and the requirement for planned, funded mine closures with community participation.
• To operationalize these safeguards, the document suggests a multi-level governance scheme consisting of a Global Coordination Group, a Technical-Operational Working Group, and a Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group to align global agendas with territorial realities.

APA

Bermúdez, J. F., Ramos, Y. P., Busconi, A., Patiño, D. C. B., Mogollón, A. M., Marengo, M., Peña, J., Tapia, P. Z., Rojas, M. A., & Patzy, F. (2025). Minerales para la transición energética: propuestas de salvaguardas para América Latina sobre los principios de la ONU. Transforma. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251215-Minerales-para-la-transicion-energetica-VIS_VFINAL.pdf

Chicago

Bermúdez, Juliette F., Yessica Prieto Ramos, Antonela Busconi, Diana Carolina Barba Patiño, Ana María Mogollón, Melissa Marengo, Juliana Peña, et al. Minerales para la transición energética: propuestas de salvaguardas para América Latina sobre los principios de la ONU. Transforma, 2025. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251215-Minerales-para-la-transicion-energetica-VIS_VFINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bermúdez |first1=Juliette F. |last2=Ramos |first2=Yessica Prieto |last3=Busconi |first3=Antonela |last4=Patiño |first4=Diana Carolina Barba |last5=Mogollón |first5=Ana María |last6=Marengo |first6=Melissa |last7=Peña |first7=Juliana |last8=Tapia |first8=Pedro Zapata |last9=Rojas |first9=María Angélica |display-authors=etal |title=Minerales para la transición energética: propuestas de salvaguardas para América Latina sobre los principios de la ONU |publisher=Transforma |date=December 2025 |url=https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251215-Minerales-para-la-transicion-energetica-VIS_VFINAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bermdez2025minerales, author = {Bermúdez, Juliette F. and Ramos, Yessica Prieto and Busconi, Antonela and Patiño, Diana Carolina Barba and Mogollón, Ana María and Marengo, Melissa and Peña, Juliana and Tapia, Pedro Zapata and Rojas, María Angélica and Patzy, Fernando}, title = {{Minerales para la transición energética: propuestas de salvaguardas para América Latina sobre los principios de la ONU}}, institution = {Transforma}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251215-Minerales-para-la-transicion-energetica-VIS_VFINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }