The Importance and Risks of Transition Minerals in Building a Just Transition
ICCR Climate Crisis Issue Brief One, June 2024
The transition to carbon-neutral economies will require a vast quantity of minerals. In essence, we must shift from a fossil fuel-intensive economy to one based on minerals, which are needed to harness and store the energy in natural systems. Due to their importance in new technologies, economic development, and even national security, these resources have been called “critical minerals” or “strategic minerals.” In this document, we will use the designation, “transition minerals” as we focus on their use in the urgent transformation towards decarbonized energy systems.
This ICCR brief provides an overview of the environmental and social impacts of lithium mining and offers policy recommendations and guidance for shareholder engagement on transition minerals.
This guidance is a resource for investors to use when discussing responsible purchasing and contracting issues with companies.
This presentation explains the foundational elements of climate lobbying, from investor expectations and enterprise risk, to examples of leading corporate practices.
ICCR’s guiding principle is that sustainable corporations must look beyond the next earnings report to account for the full impact of their businesses on society and the environment, and must view the well-being of all of their stakeholders ― including their workers and the communities where they operate ― as integral to their long-term success.
This guide presents the ICCR member-sponsored resolutions — both as lead- and co-filer — filed for 2024 corporate proxies as of February 15. A link to our February 15 launch webinar will be posted shortly.
ICCR members have filed 344 resolutions to date this year. In the 2024 Guide we provide an overview of this season’s trends.
Proposals addressing worker rights and human rights, and the climate crisis led the way with 75 and 70 respectively. Proposals on corporate lobbying and political spending were the third largest group with 63. Next comes diversity and racial justice, followed by corporate governance, environmental health, and health equity.
Members of the ICCR coalition are known for their innovative strategies in shareholder engagement. Among their new asks this year are:
AI Transparency Report The Potential Health Harms of Non-Sugar Substitutes Deep Sea Mining Fair Treatment of Shareholder Nominees to the Board The Impact of Racial and Ethnic Disparities on Business Adopting a Living Wage Policy Net Zero Sector Emissions Alignment Proxy Voting Alignment Reducing Microfiber Pollution, and Anti-Union Expenditures
If you are an investor, ICCR invites you to practice active ownership by reading the proposals in the pages that follow and voting your proxy ballots in favor of those that you can.
