Mapping critical minerals projects and their intersection with Indigenous peoples' land rights in Australia

Abstract

Vastly increased quantities of minerals and metals are needed to scale up renewable energy technologies. Indigenous peoples globally are voicing concerns about how this will affect the speed and scale of mining and renewable energy development on their lands and territories. In this paper, we delineate areas of Australia where Indigenous peoples' interests in land are formally recognised under legislation. These areas are overlayed with critical minerals project information to calculate intersections across 14 commodities. Our results show that 57.8 % of critical minerals projects are located where Indigenous peoples have a right to negotiate. Including native title claims, these rights are available for 79.2 % of critical minerals projects. We argue that critical minerals policies must consider Indigenous peoples' rights and interests in land upfront – not as an afterthought. To date, Indigenous peoples have not shared equitably in the wealth generated by mining Australia's mineral endowment. Inequitable outcomes will continue without major policy reform.