Enhancing responsible mining policies and raw materials resilience in EU regions

ongoing

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) and metals widely used by the EU industry, such as lithium, palladium, cobalt and aluminium, are at the core of the transition to a low carbon economy (e.g., manufacturing of electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines). Still, the EU depends heavily on imports from countries with low governance standards (e.g., Congo, China, Russia), which jeopardizes the Green Deal and exposes territorial value chains to economic volatility and geopolitical risks. At the same time, domestic sourcing is met with public opposition due to mining businesses’ low sustainability performance, and recycling ecosystems are not yet mature enough to provide adequate supplies. OBJECTIVE: RAW4RES will address the need for improved policy support for raw materials resilience, responsible domestic mining, and further development of secondary markets. RAW4RES will enable partners and stakeholders to: 1. Assess and forecast raw materials vulnerabilities in participating regions’ value chains, and develop mitigation measures. 2. Streamline and promote sustainable and environmentally responsible mining policies, principles, and practices. 3. Strengthen processes of open discussion, consensus-building, and conflict resolution between local communities, civil society, businesses, and stakeholders. 4. Promote circular relationships in industrial value chains, to maximise resource efficiency, minimise waste, and tap into regions’ unvalorised recycling potential. IMPACT: RAW4RES supports 8 partners from 7 countries, aiming to achieve: -7 improved policy instruments, benefiting policy responsible authorities & stakeholders. -Increased capacity of 50 organisations to effectively implement environmentally sound and socially inclusive raw materials policies and/or practices. -Increased awareness and consensus building for raw materials resilience among civil society groups, environmental agencies, public administrations and stakeholders in partnership areas.

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