CIVICUS discusses resistance to lithium mining with members of United in Defence of Covas do Barroso (UDCB), a grassroots movement challenging a mining project in a farming village in northern Portugal.

Their experience reflects a growing tension between the European Union’s (EU) climate transition goals and the rights of local communities living close to extractive sites. The project, backed by the EU and the Portuguese government, aims to mine lithium for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. Officials frame this as crucial for meeting climate targets and reducing dependency on foreign suppliers, yet locals feel sidelined and fear their UNESCO-recognised agricultural heritage will be sacrificed.

Why are people in Covas do Barroso rejecting lithium mining?

The mining company, Savannah, arrived in our farming lands with an old, almost inactive licence and started drilling holes. Even though its licence was originally for feldspar and quartz, its plan was to open four lithium mines right next to our village, in a much bigger area than that stated in the original licence.

The consequences would be devastating. Our region has been recognised internationally for its traditional and sustainable farming systems, and this project threatens to destroy an ecosystem and a sustainable way of life that has taken generations to build. All of this would be sacrificed in the name of supposedly reducing carbon emissions, while in reality, it will deepen the climate crisis by destroying forests, water sources and fertile land.

As soon as drilling began, people were alarmed. We never agreed to this. It was imposed on us. We raised questions with local authorities and the offices that issued the licence, but they gave us no answers. We realised that the only way to make our voices heard and defend our community was to form a general assembly, so we created UDCB.

How is UDCB resisting this project?

We are ordinary people suddenly thrown into an extraordinary situation. Most of us knew nothing about activism or mining, except for the damage left behind by old mines in our region. But when no one would listen to us, we realised we had no choice but to organise.

Since then, we’ve done everything we can to defend our rights: we’ve held protests, organised assemblies and set up protest camps. Together with ClientEarth and MiningWatch Portugal, we filed a complaint against the European Commission for failing to properly assess the environmental and social risks of these open pit mines. We’ve also gone to the media to expose the truth and counter the disinformation spread by mining lobbies.

This is not a cheap or easy fight. We all have families and jobs, and our campaign demands time, energy and significant legal costs. On the other side are professionals with vast resources and a track record of silencing opposition to mining in other parts of the world. Our opposition is often dismissed, discredited or outright repressed, including through lawsuits, police intimidation, private security and constant surveillance. Still, we are determined to keep going.

Through this struggle, we’ve also realised how fragile our democracy is. We fought hard for it, but this experience has exposed its limits. And we’re not alone: communities in France, Germany, Serbia and Sweden face the same challenges. Across Europe, people living near lithium deposits are rejecting the idea that sacrificing their lands is the only way to address the climate crisis.

How do authorities justify this project, and what alternatives do you propose?

As part of the European Critical Raw Materials Act, 27 mineral projects have been labelled ‘strategic’, and Covas is one of them. The goal is to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and meet 10 per cent of Europe’s demand for critical raw materials by 2030, particularly lithium, which is essential for electric car batteries and renewable energy storage.

For the European Commission and the Portuguese government, this project is vital, and it’s also seen as an opportunity for Portugal. They frame lithium extraction as key to economic growth and climate action. But this narrative ignores the costs for communities like ours.

Their approach is wrong. Before opening new mines, Europe should focus on reducing demand: making public transport more affordable, reducing waste and investing seriously in recycling. It’s deeply unfair to ask communities like ours, which have always lived sustainably, to bear the costs of the climate crisis so others can continue resource‑intensive lifestyles.