The European Union has developed a set of due diligence frameworks aimed at improving corporate accountability in mineral supply chains, particularly those linked to conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
These regulations, such as the Conflict Minerals Regulation, the Battery Regulation, and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), seek to address both social and environmental risks associated with mineral extraction. However, their capacity to respond to the specific challenges of environmental degradation and weak resource governance in conflict hotspots remains limited.
This IPIS report argues that while these frameworks represent an important step, their current implementation does not sufficiently account for the complex nexus between environmental harm, conflict dynamics, and poor governance in areas like eastern DRC.
Mineral extraction in such regions often exacerbates environmental degradation, weakens local resilience, and fuels ongoing cycles of violence. Yet the environmental dimensions of these dynamics are only partially addressed by existing EU regulations. Moreover, the competing objectives of market competitiveness and sustainable governance within EU policy risk diluting the impact of due diligence requirements. Without clearer integration of environmental resilience into corporate due diligence processes, and without strong, context-specific implementation strategies, these frameworks may fall short of their potential.
To bridge this gap, the report recommends that EU policymakers strengthen the environmental focus within due diligence obligations, particularly in conflict-prone contexts, and support tools such as mine site mapping to monitor environmental impacts more effectively. Companies sourcing from these regions should adopt proactive strategies to mitigate environmental risks and support local resilience. Civil society actors, in turn, play a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability, and in amplifying local voices in resource governance debates.
This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
