This could not come at a more crucial time. Most of the minerals needed for the world to transition to sustainable energy are found in countries where corruption is endemic. This allows funds that could be used for sustainable development and support populations in need to be used instead to favor corrupt activities and even violence. The Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, has scored 20 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, as corruption hinders the government’s management of mining operations, allowing violent conflict over the country’s mineral resources.

These risks are high in the different sectors of the extractive industries. As the world moves away from fossil fuels, there are growing risks in the markets for minerals such as copper, lithium and cobalt, which are necessary for the energy transition.

Delia Ferreira Rubio, chair of Transparency International, said:

“The EITI, as a global initiative representing transparency and civil society participation in the often opaque and corruption-prone extractive sector, can play a leading role in both the fight against corruption and for a just energy transition. Unfortunately, the current standard is insufficient. We call on the initiative to strengthen its anti-corruption provisions, particularly by requiring implementing countries to establish beneficial ownership registries with robust verification mechanisms, as well as comprehensive integrity control measures during the licensing process. The EITI must ensure that the climate transition does not come at the expense of democracy, the environment and human rights in extractive countries.”

The EITI Board should strengthen the EITI Standard to require implementing countries to establish verification mechanisms to ensure that beneficial ownership information provided by mining, oil and gas corporations is accurate and up to date. Also expand the scope of information that companies must disclose to include the ownership structure in a comprehensive manner. In addition, the report should highlight
any connection of the companies with the licensing authorities.

EITI should also support and expand capacity building measures within multi-stakeholder groups to enable civil society actors and government representatives to understand, use and verify beneficial ownership data. EITI reports lack intelligibility to the public because they are highly technical. The EITI must implement a new approach focused on communication and knowledge if it is to fulfill its mission of strengthening public and corporate governance and accountability and informing policymaking in the extractive sector.

The post Transparency International: EITI must strengthen anti-corruption provisions appeared first on Mesa de la Sociedad Civil para la transparencia en las Industrias Extractivas.

Best regards.

On behalf of the Central Region Chapter Forum we invite you to each one of you and your work teams to participate in our fourth session of the Update Cycle on Extractive Activity in Colombia, which is being carried out with the support of the Civil Society Roundtable for Transparency in the Extractive Industries.

Cycle: Extractive activity in Colombia
Session 4: Environmental impacts of extractive activities in Colombia and Environmental liabilities

Time: 10 Mar 2023 08:00 a.m. Bogotá

Join the Zoom meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3132652172

In order to enrich the debate, we share with you the following texts:

Environmental Mining Diagnosis of Liabilities in the National Territory. Office of Environmental and Social Affairs. Progress and actions taken with respect to “Environmental Liabilities”. Ministry of Mines and Energy. https://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.andi.com.co//Uploads/Presentacion%20PASIVOS%20AMBIENTALES%20MINEROS-SECTORIAL.pdf

Text approved in first debate in semi-presential session of the fifth permanent constitutional commission of the house of representatives on June 7, 2022. Bill no. 117 of 2021 House of Representatives. https://www.%20AMBIENTALES%

Management of environmental liabilities in Colombia National Planning Department Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate Lizeth Cantor ycantor@dnp.gov.co August, 2019. https://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/events/files/8._liceth_cantor_pasivosambientales_dnp.pdf

Greetings,

Mario Freddy Martínez Pulido

Chief Executive Officer

Central Region Chapter Forum

Tel: (+601) 4108129

Address: Cra. 13 # 35-43 Edificio Internacional Office 1101 – Bogotá D.C.

E-: direccion.bogota@foro.org.co

https:/fundacionfororegioncentral.org/

The post Fourth session of the update cycle on extractive activities in Colombia appeared first on Mesa de la Sociedad Civil para la transparencia en las Industrias Extractivas.