Japan: NGO report highlights human rights risks in the EV battery nickel supply chain and gaps in government and corporate practice; incl. cos. responses
"【Report】 In the Shadow of “Green” EVs: Human Rights Challenges in the Nickel Supply Chain," 7 July 2026
Human Rights Now (HRN), an international human rights NGO, has conducted a research study on human rights issues in the nickel supply chain used for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, as well as the responses of Japanese companies and the Japanese government.
As the global transition toward carbon neutrality accelerates, the adoption of electric vehicles has expanded rapidly in recent years. Consequently, demand for nickel, a key raw material used in EV batteries, has also increased significantly worldwide. At the same time, serious human rights concerns have been reported in nickel mining and refining operations, including land grabbing, environmental degradation, violations of the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples, and infringements on workers’ rights. ...
... this report examines and analyzes human rights risks within the nickel supply chain and evaluates the responses of Japanese companies and the Japanese government. A questionnaire survey was conducted targeting 11 Japanese automobile manufacturers and trading companies.
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The survey received responses from 4 of the 11 target companies.
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The findings reveal that significant challenges remain for most automobile manufacturers in addressing nickel-specific human rights risks, ensuring supply chain transparency, and establishing effective remedy mechanisms accessible to workers and local communities affected by mining operations.
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Accordingly, the report recommends that the Japanese government introduce mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence in line with international human rights standards, establish an independent National Human Rights Institution, ratify ILO Convention No. 169, and strengthen related legal and institutional frameworks. The report also calls on Japanese companies to strengthen human rights commitments at the management level, conduct human rights risk assessments specifically tailored to mining and mineral sourcing, establish effective grievance mechanisms accessible to workers and local communities, and enhance ongoing dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders, including NGOs and local communities.
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