Yesterday we launched the China-Africa Dialogue on Green Minerals - on the sidelines of AMI - a platform created by Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association ZELA and Global Witness for all African CSOs and communities to engage, share lessons and experience with Chinese actors for purposes of promoting responsible investments in green minerals.
Why is the China-Africa dialogue crucial now?
The demand for clean energy minerals is fueling significant investments on the African continent in lithium, copper, graphite, manganese, cobalt and rare earth elements. China is the biggest investor in these sectors, and controls global processing capacity of the critical minerals. While these investments are crucial for Africa's economic development and growth, they are often leave a trail of destruction, and most African communities and CSOs lack knowledge on how to engage Chinese companies and support communities to access to remedies for those impacted. The China-Africa Dialogue is meant to address deal with these challenges through various strategies;
1. Access to information: Stronger relationships between African and Chinese CSOs can open up more channels for information sharing, enabling better monitoring of these projects. YUN LAI, Alaka Lugonzo
2. Building Knowledge around Regulation of Chinese overseas investments: Chinese overseas investments are governed by different standards and frameworks, which are not always in line with international human rights or environmental regulations. African CSOs can benefit from working closely with Chinese counterparts to better understand these frameworks and advocate for responsible practices.
3. Influencing Corporate Behavior: By collaborating with Chinese CSOs, African organizations can help shape the conversation on responsible investment and build collective pressure for greater accountability from Chinese mining companies operating across the continent.
This dialogue marks a significant step toward ensuring that the energy transition is both sustainable and just, offering affected communities a more direct path to remedy and accountability.
Reach out to join this platform as we embark on the journey.
Fadzai Lydia Midzi, Mukasiri Sibanda, Yu Chen, Yimin Yi, Maybel Acquaye, Pauline Laborde, Darlington Chidarara, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre,African Resources Watch (AFREWATCH), Prolific S Mataruse, Veda Vaidyanathan, Natural Justice, SOUTHERN AFRICA RESOURCE WATCH, Meshack Mboya, Manson Gwanyanya
#AMIChinaAfricaDialogue #GreenEnergy #SustainableMining #HumanRights #ClimateAction #CriticalMinerals #Investment #Partnerships #EnergyTransition #AccessToRemedy #SocialJustice #AfricanCSOs #ChineseCSOs #Regulation #InformationSharing
