Sápmi, the traditional land of the Sami people spanning across parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, possesses a wealth of natural resources that have placed it at the forefront of the global green transition. The region’s rich deposits of minerals, including rare earth elements crucial for renewable energy technologies, have sparked significant interest from governments and corporations alike. However, Amnesty International, in conjunction with the Sami Council, has raised serious concerns regarding the exploitation of these resources, asserting that the pursuit of these critical minerals often occurs without adequate consultation and consent from the affected Sami communities. This practice, they argue, violates international human rights standards and disregards the Sami people’s right to self-determination and their inherent connection to their ancestral lands. The core of the issue lies in the balance between the pressing need for resources to drive the green transition and the fundamental rights of indigenous populations.
Amnesty International’s report, developed in collaboration with the Sami Council, meticulously examines three projects in Sápmi to assess how they incorporate a Sami perspective and respect their rights. In Sweden, the investigation focused on a proposed nickel mine in Rönnebäck, an area designated for reindeer herding, a cornerstone of Sami culture and livelihood. The report concludes that the Swedish government’s actions in pursuing this project contravene international human rights norms by failing to secure the free, prior, and informed consent of the affected Sami communities. This echoes previous criticisms directed at Sweden regarding inadequate consultation processes in Sápmi. The report emphasizes that development projects on Sami lands should not proceed without genuinely seeking and obtaining the consent of the Sami people, as stipulated in international instruments such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Anna Johansson, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, underscores the importance of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which explicitly mandates that indigenous peoples, including the Sami, have the right to participate, on equal footing and with full transparency, in all decision-making processes that affect their affairs. Johansson argues that the current practices fall short of these requirements, leaving the Sami marginalized and without sufficient influence over decisions that directly impact their lives and their traditional territories. This lack of genuine consultation not only disregards the Sami’s inherent rights but also risks jeopardizing their traditional way of life, which is intricately linked to the land and its resources. The exploitation of resources without the Sami’s free, prior, and informed consent jeopardizes their cultural survival and undermines their right to self-determination.
While Sweden introduced a consultation process in 2022, obligating government bodies to consult with the Sami people on matters of significant importance to them, Amnesty argues that this legislation is fundamentally flawed. Critically, the existing consultation process lacks a requirement to actively strive for the consent of the Sami communities. This deficiency leaves a significant gap in protecting their rights and allows for development projects to proceed even if they face considerable opposition from the affected Sami groups. The current framework, according to Amnesty, prioritizes the expediency of resource extraction over the fundamental rights of the Sami people and fails to uphold the principles of free, prior, and informed consent enshrined in international law.
Amnesty International calls for a substantial overhaul of the current Swedish legislation to genuinely protect Sami rights. They advocate for a process that not only consults but actively seeks the consent of the Sami people before any development projects are approved on their traditional lands. Furthermore, they urge the Swedish government to refrain from authorizing any new projects or permits for resource extraction or energy development in Sápmi until the existing legislation is strengthened and aligns with international human rights standards. This moratorium, they argue, is necessary to prevent further violations of Sami rights and ensure that any future development is conducted with their full and informed participation and consent.
The situation in Sápmi highlights a global dilemma facing indigenous communities worldwide: balancing the urgent need for resources to address climate change with the imperative to protect the rights and traditional livelihoods of indigenous peoples. The pursuit of a green transition should not come at the expense of indigenous self-determination and their right to maintain their cultural heritage. The case of Sápmi emphasizes the crucial need for states to fully implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ensuring that indigenous communities have a genuine voice in decisions that affect their lands and their future. A just and sustainable green transition requires a commitment to genuine partnership with indigenous peoples, respecting their rights and ensuring that development benefits all, not just a select few.
