Too clean to compete: Why strict standards keep Europeans out of African minerals

Too clean to compete: Why strict standards keep Europeans out of African minerals

Cover image: picture alliance / Xinhua News Agency | Wu ChangweiSummary Europe is losing out in the race to access critical raw materials even though European leaders believe the EU’s high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards appeal to mineral-rich countries, including in Africa. One reason it is falling behind is that European ESG standards are now so strict they stymie the investment needed to unlock access to critical mineral…