UN Climate Summit Backs Electrification Push Amid Calls For Stronger Mining Safeguards

COP31 Pushes Global Electrification Drive, But Rights Groups Warn Of Mining Risks

The COP31 climate summit has called on countries to accelerate the shift towards electrification, with clean public transport, energy-efficient buildings and affordable power among its key priorities. However, environmental and human rights organisations have warned that the growing demand for minerals required to support the transition could lead to further damage to ecosystems and vulnerable communities.

The concerns centre on the mining of materials used in power grids, batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and other clean energy technologies. Activists say that without strong safeguards, efforts to tackle climate change could create new environmental and human rights problems.

COP31 Sets 2035 Electrification Target

Türkiye, which is hosting COP31 alongside Australia, has made electrification a central focus of its climate agenda. The proposed ‘35-by-35’ pledge aims to increase electricity’s share of global energy use from 21 per cent to 35 per cent by 2035, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The initiative builds on commitments made at previous climate conferences. At COP28, countries agreed to work towards tripling renewable energy capacity and transitioning away from fossil fuels. COP29, meanwhile, placed emphasis on energy storage, modernising electricity grids and climate finance.

COP31 President Murat Kurum, who also serves as Türkiye’s environment minister, said electrification would connect these earlier commitments with changes in everyday energy consumption.

He said the transition would require renewable energy, stronger electricity networks, storage facilities, energy-efficient systems, clean transport and greener industries. The aim, he added, is to make the benefits of climate action visible through affordable energy, cleaner public transport, efficient buildings and employment opportunities.

However, environmental campaigners have pointed out that the proposed pledge does not explicitly require electricity to come from renewable sources. This means fossil fuels, including coal, could still contribute to meeting the target.

Rising Demand For Minerals Raises Concerns

The global shift towards cleaner energy has already increased demand for minerals and metals used in electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, high-speed rail networks and other infrastructure.

According to the International Energy Agency, this demand has fuelled mining activity in countries such as Indonesia and Brazil. Governments are also exploring alternative sources, including deep-sea mining, to secure supplies of critical minerals.

The proposed electrification target is expected to add further pressure on these resources.

A report by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre recorded more than 300 allegations of human rights violations linked to the mining of transition minerals in 2025. This represented a 73 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

Emily Iona Stewart, head of policy and advocacy at Global Witness, warned that expanding mining without adequate protections could intensify existing problems.

Mining operations have been associated with deforestation, water contamination, destruction of natural habitats and the displacement of Indigenous communities. Rights organisations fear that a rapid expansion of extraction could worsen these impacts.

Activists Demand Stronger Environmental Protections

More than 120 international civil society organisations have written to the COP31 presidencies, demanding stronger safeguards for the proposed electrification initiative.

Their demands include protecting vulnerable ecosystems, introducing binding human rights and environmental due diligence requirements, and safeguarding the rights of Indigenous communities.

The organisations have stressed that the clean energy transition should not reproduce the environmental and social damage associated with the fossil fuel industry.

Experts have also highlighted recycling as an important way to reduce pressure on newly mined resources. The International Energy Agency estimates that expanding recycling could cut the need for new mining by 25 to 40 per cent by 2050.

However, many countries still lack adequate waste management systems and regulations to support large-scale recycling.

Critical Minerals Missing From Climate Negotiations

Rights experts have raised concerns that critical minerals and mining are not explicitly addressed in the official negotiations and key agenda discussions at COP31.

They argue that the absence of clear commitments could make it harder to prevent abuses in mineral supply chains.

Aimee Boulanger, executive director of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, said expanding electricity access was essential, particularly for communities that still lack reliable power. However, she cautioned that improving living conditions in one region should not come at the expense of communities where the required raw materials are extracted.

Türkiye is serving as the official host of COP31, while Australia is leading the negotiations. The two presidencies did not respond to requests for comment.