Global transition, local transformations: governance challenges for the energy transition at the sites of extraction
As countries intensify their efforts to fulfil climate promises, global energy transition dynamics are transforming local contexts, particularly in resource-rich countries.
The shift towards clean energy technologies, such as wind turbines, electric vehicles and solar panels, is a major driver of the growing global demand for minerals across all commodities, particularly those dubbed ‘critical’, ‘transition’ or ‘green’ minerals.
This new report by Transparency International’s Accountable Mining Programme highlights how corruption is emerging as a critical threat to the global energy transition. New data shows without robust governance frameworks, mounting corruption risks in the critical minerals sector could derail the efforts of transitioning to renewable energy.
The report examines cases from six countries from the Americas, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, discussing how their local contexts are being impacted by global energy transition dynamics. The report uses U.S. Geological Survey data to map global reserves of 14 critical minerals by country and overlays this with the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which measures countries’ perceived levels of public sector corruption. Alarmingly, this new data shows that more than half of global reserves of 11 of 14 key critical minerals required for the energy transition are found in corrupt-prone jurisdictions.
The report calls on governments, investors, and industry leaders to implement strong governance reforms urgently. Such measures are essential to ensure a just energy transition that is not only swift and efficient but also equitable and transparent, safeguarding both local communities and our planet.