ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have called on the Scottish government to help curb imports of mined materials linked to human rights abuses.

Friends of the Earth Scotland, in a report published today, cautioned the way such materials, required in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, are extracted.

Environmental destruction is being caused by the mining of lithium for electric car batteries and iron ore to produce steel for wind turbines, it said.

The campaign group believes policy makers are ignoring the risk that “serious and extensive harm” is being done through the extraction of both materials.

Lithium mining in particular has “extensive social and environmental impacts,” it said, citing evidence of human rights abuses wrought by mining companies on indigenous people.

The process of lithium mining requires high volumes of water in areas where reserves are already stretched and this extra demand can limit supplies to local communities and wildlife, the paper says.

“Common social issues include loss of land and displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods, food and water insecurities, health impacts, and safety issues for workers,” the document states.

“Conflicts often arising from these issues include gross human rights abuses, including murder, torture, forced labour and slavery, threats, gender violence and militarisation.”

The paper also warns the mining process has “considerable” impacts on ecosystems, is a leading cause of deforestation across the globe and generated over 100 billion tonnes of solid waste in 2019.

Kim Pratt, a circular economy campaigner for the charity, commented: “Transitioning away from fossil fuels is vital for a liveable planet, but we must not create another crisis in doing so.

“Materials like lithium and steel are essential for renewables and electric vehicles, but we can’t ignore the serious harm being caused by their extraction.

“We want to see a Scotland which takes no more resources than it needs and, when resources are taken, it’s done in a way which isn’t harming communities or nature anywhere in the world.

“The overall demand for materials must be reduced by moving Scotland to a circular economy, where materials are reused and recycled rather than being thrown away after one use, and by focusing on public services rather than private ones.

“We simply cannot replace all our current petrol and diesel cars with electric cars like for like – we need better public transport, so we don’t need as many cars overall.”

The Scottish government has been approached for comment.