Berlin, 28 September 2026: Today and until October 8, more than 35 organizations from Germany and numerous other countries will present their perspectives in events on raw material extraction and global justice at the Alternative raw material week one. With 25 events on the circular economy, human rights and environmental protection, the week sees itself as a civil society intervention in the current international raw materials policy. The highlight is the Commodity summit on 6 October 2026.
While Germany and the EU secure their supply of critical raw materials and promote new raw material projects, a broad alliance of civil society organisations warns against subordinating environmental, human rights and participation standards to the goal of faster raw material supply.
Hannah Pilgrim, Coordinator of the AK Rohstoffe and initiator of the Alternative Raw Materials Week: “With its raw materials policy, the Federal Government is setting completely wrong priorities. It cannot withstand a race with China or the US. Instead, it should focus on a sustainable raw materials policy that prioritises external dependencies by reducing raw material consumption and expanding the circular economy. To be heard by resource-rich partner countries, it must defend hard-won human rights and environmental standards. With the Alternative Raw Materials Week, we are bringing together voices that need to be heard more strongly in the current debate: from mining regions, academia, trade unions and international civil society.”
Víctor Quintanilla-Sangueza, Coordinator at Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), participating organisation of Alternative Raw Materials Week 2026: "European raw materials policy poses significant risks to the people of Latin America, as the mining of lithium, copper and other raw materials has serious environmental and social impacts. That is why we participate in critical discussion forums, such as the Alternative Raw Materials Week, to make the affected communities more heard. We contrast the prevailing narrative of the energy transition with one that focuses on life. We question who sets the rules for the transformation processes in the Global North and who bears the costs. We carry out our work together with communities and organisations in Latin America, including the Andean Wetlands Alliance.”
During the Alternative Raw Materials Week, various international guests from Argentina, Bolivia, the DR Congo or Portugal will be available for interviews. A selection:
Pía Marchegiani, FARN Argentina
Nik Völker, MiningWatch Portugal
Press contacts for interviews and participation:
AK raw materials: hannah.pilgrim@power-shift.de
+ 49 (0)30 41 93 41 82
Press: lisa.stueve@power-shift.de
The Working Group on Raw Materials (AK) is a network of German non-governmental organisations that promotes the highest standards along metallic-mineral raw material supply chains and calls for a change in German raw material policy.
