Rethinking Africa’s Mining Future: Aligning Resources with Climate Justice and Sustainable Development

The global race for critical minerals has placed Africa at the center of an intense geopolitical and economic contest. Yet, despite the continent’s vast resource wealth, mining communities continue to face displacement, environmental degradation, and economic injustice. At the recently concluded African Forum on Mining (March 19–21, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), Philip Kilonzo, Head of Policy, Advocacy, and Communication at PACJA, emphasized the urgent need to rethink mining policies to align with climate justice, just transition, and sustainable development.

The African Mining Paradox

Africa holds over 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, including key resources for the green transition—cobalt, lithium, graphite, and rare earth elements. However, current extraction models remain rooted in colonial-era policies, where raw materials are exported with minimal local value addition, leaving host communities impoverished while foreign economies flourish.

Kilonzo underscored a crucial challenge: the mining sector remains a major contributor to environmental degradation and carbon emissions. From deforestation and soil degradation to carbon-intensive extraction processes, the industry is far from being climate-conscious. At the same time, mining communities suffer from poor access to clean energy, even as Africa’s minerals power the world’s renewable energy ambitions.

A Just Transition in Mining: More Than a Buzzword

With the world shifting towards a low-carbon economy, demand for Africa’s critical minerals is rising. However, without policy reforms, Africa risks falling into a familiar trap—exporting raw materials while importing finished products at exorbitant costs.

Kilonzo highlighted the need for a climate-smart and socially responsible approach to mining that ensures:

✅ Resource governance benefits local communities – Countries must implement policies that prioritize beneficiation and value addition to create jobs and drive local economies.

✅ Mining is integrated into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – Africa’s climate strategies should not overlook the emissions and social costs of mining.

✅ Artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) are part of the transition – Currently marginalized, ASM workers could play a vital role in climate adaptation and locally driven sustainability efforts.

✅ Revenues from mining fund climate resilience projects – Profits from mineral wealth should support adaptation initiatives that protect vulnerable communities from climate shocks.

The Africa Mining Vision: A Roadmap for Climate-Smart Governanc

The Africa Mining Vision (AMV), adopted in 2009, presents a blueprint for sustainable, inclusive, and climate-conscious mining. However, its implementation has been slow and inconsistent. To ensure Africa benefits from its resources, governments must enforce:

📌 Transparency and accountability in extractive revenues – Mining contracts should be publicly accessible, ensuring that communities understand and benefit from agreements.

📌 Environmental safeguards – Mining activities must be aligned with national and regional climate action plans.

📌 Incentives for green mining practices – Investments in low-carbon extraction technologies and circular economy approaches should be prioritized.

Shaping the Future: The Call for Climate-Smart Mining Policies

Africa stands at a crossroads. The demand for its minerals will only increase, but without urgent reforms, the continent risks another cycle of resource exploitation with minimal benefits for its people. Kilonzo’s message at the African Forum on Mining was clear: Africa must own its mining agenda, aligning it with climate justice and economic transformation.

The time to act is now. Will Africa lead the way in sustainable mining, or will it continue being a supplier of raw materials while others reap the benefits? The answer lies in bold policies, strategic investments, and a collective commitment to just, climate-smart, and equitable resource governance.