Protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights amid growing demand for land and critical minerals

Over half of the world’s critical mineral reserves are located on or near Indigenous lands. As demand for critical minerals is set to surge 500 percent by 2050—and demand for land continues to grow—the need to secure Indigenous Peoples' land tenure has never been more urgent.  Clear and enforceable land rights are essential to regulating mining transparently and upholding the rights of landholders. 

Experience shows that governments and companies can play a vital role in addressing development challenges when they engage Indigenous Peoples as partners and respect their rights to self-determination. Yet, many countries fail to formally recognize vast areas of land held and managed by Indigenous groups.  

By taking action to secure existing land tenure and strengthen land systems, mineral-rich economies can reduce the risk of land conflicts, attract investment, promote sustainable use of land, and prevent the displacement of local landholders. Clear land rights empower Indigenous Peoples to decide whether and how to engage in mining projects on their territories and ensure they share the benefits. Strong land tenure systems are also a building block for secure minerals supply chains and can open the door to global markets, which increasingly prefer responsibly sourced critical minerals. 

In recent years, momentum has grown around Indigenous rights in the critical minerals sector. Most recently, ahead of the 24th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, The rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of critical minerals to ensure a just transition was issued. This and other initiatives are shaping a more sustainable direction for transition minerals mining, with respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights at its core. 

Despite these collective efforts, significant gaps remain. Urgent action is needed, as data shows that protests and conflict correlate with countries that have significant production of transition minerals. 

This is where development banks like the World Bank Group can make a difference – by supporting countries to build mining sectors that not only drive economic growth but also empower Indigenous Peoples as key decision-makers and custodians of their lands. Tools like the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) can help clients plan proactively and engage meaningfully with Indigenous Peoples, local communities and other key stakeholders to mitigate risks and promote equitable benefit sharing:

Securing Indigenous Peoples’ land rights is a complex challenge, but one that can be addressed with the right approaches. These solutions will take center stage at the World Bank Land Conference taking place from May 5-8, 2025. Join us to explore these critical issues and collaborate on building a just and sustainable energy future.