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The Stockholm Environment Institute argues that the proposed EU Critical Raw Materials Act risks exacerbating human rights breaches and 'green colonialism' against the Indigenous Sámi people in Northern Europe. While welcoming the inclusion of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for 'strategic' projects, the authors identify critical weaknesses in the act's reliance on Member State bureaucracies, certification schemes, and the lack of resources for Indigenous participation. They propose three amendments: an EU-level oversight mechanism for grievances, mandatory FPIC standards for certification schemes, and a funding mechanism to support affected rights-holders during fast-tracked licensing processes.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute uses Sweden as a case study to examine equity in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. It argues that focusing solely on public charging as a metric for success is contradictory, as private charging is the dominant strategy for cost and grid flexibility. The analysis reveals a correlation between higher disposable income and higher private charger density, particularly in urban areas, while car density is higher in regions where charger access remains low. The authors recommend systematic data collection at the postcode level to identify and address structural inequalities in infrastructure deployment.