Rising demand for critical minerals may push environmental crimes in Africa to record high, doubling the current losses by $390 billion every year. A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) accredited organisation, Green Growth Africa, said in Abuja, yesterday, that demand for the exploration of critical minerals to power clean energy would exponentially increase environmental crimes amidst the burden of illegal mining, illegal exportation of critical minerals, child labour and other related crimes.
This came as the organisation launched a technology-driven initiative called EcoJustice, which aimed at facilitating citizen and civic action for community environmental policing to combat environmental crime in Africa.
Executive Director of the organisation, Dr Adedoyin Adeleke, speaking at a conference, said if Africa did nothing to curb environmental crimes, the continent risked losing up to $195 billion yearly.
According to him, the figure could double within two years due to rising demand for critical minerals.
“As the global transition to renewable energy accelerates, the demand for these minerals—used in electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries—will surge. Unfortunately, this demand often fuels illegal mining activities, which devastate local environments and communities,” he said.
Stressing that the rising challenges posed serious issues to the economy of African countries, which are already distressed by climate challenges, Adeleke said areas of the country that could not be policed by law enforcement could be empowered, with the organisation’s initiative, to tackle environmental issues.
According to Adeleke innovative approach that addresses economic and social needs while reducing environmental harm is critical. He stressed that the environmental crime in cement production was one of the most carbon-intensive processes globally, yet it remained unnoticed because the emissions occur far from consumers.
“Proactive measures, such as empowering citizens to monitor and report illegal activities, could cut these losses by half within three years and potentially bring them to zero in the longer term.
“Africa’s transition to a green economy is not just a moral imperative; it is an economic and social necessity. With the right strategies and partnerships, the continent can balance its development priorities with sustainability, ensuring a brighter, greener future for all,” he noted.
Adeleke said EcoJustice Africa empowers citizens to report environmental crimes through the Green Growth Watch mobile app, designed to enable real-time, anonymous submissions of geo-tagged evidence.
With the plan, verified reports are analysed in the EcoJustice Situation Room and used for advocacy, policy reforms, or strategic litigation when necessary.
By combining technology, citizen engagement and multi-stakeholder collaboration, he said EcoJustice Africa would drive policy change and strengthen environmental governance as its data repository supports targeted interventions, while media campaigns and public dialogues amplify advocacy, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable and sustainable practices are advanced.
