What are “critical minerals” and why do they matter for human rights?

A June 10, 2026 article from Amnesty International begins:

 “Global demand for minerals is rising fast. This is being driven by the shift to renewable energy and electric vehicles, and increasingly by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and data centres…. Amnesty International’s research, spanning more than a decade and many countries, shows that communities at the frontlines of so-called ‘critical minerals’ extraction experience serious human rights and environmental abuses…. From the Philippines to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the USA, the pattern is clear: too often, the demand for minerals happens at the expense of human rights and the environment.”

Read the full article HERE.