Natural resources and rights

Why are people in countries rich in natural resources suffering in poverty?

What's wrong

People in countries that are rich in oil, gas, gold, and copper are living in poverty. While corrupt governments earn revenue from these resources, people lack health care, jobs, decent education, and proper roads. Local communities have no say in the extraction of resources from their land and suffer from pollution, corruption, human rights violations, and the effects of climate change.

Making it right

Oxfam helps communities affected by oil, gas, and mining operations to control how their natural resources are used – to defend their right to say if, and therefore how, projects are carried out. These projects should not add to poverty and powerlessness; they should help communities overcome these challenges as part of an environmentally and socially responsible form of development.

Stories & updates

Politics of Poverty

US Treasury’s new guidance on phasing out support of fossil fuels is welcome—but lacks critical detail

Aug. 19, 2021

As the UN sounded the alarm that we’re close to the point of no return on the climate crisis, the US Treasury published new guidance about phasing out support for fossil-fuel based energy. Is it enough?

Politics of Poverty

ExxonMobil says one thing—and lobbies for another. How can we hold companies accountable for what they do in the dark?

Aug. 2, 2021

For years, Oxfam has participated in a global initiative which aims to promote accountability around the management of oil, gas, and mineral resources. The EITI Standard engages 55 countries, 68 companies, and eight organizations. But maintaining the standard requires transparency, honesty, and integrity—and recent signs indicate that ExxonMobil is not playing by the rules.

Politics of Poverty

Americans are tired of bankrolling Big Oil. Biden listened–will Congress?

May 28, 2021

For decades, the fossil fuel industry has enjoyed outlandish subsidies from taxpayers. Congress and the administration finally have the opportunity to stop the handouts, and address climate change, corporate power, and racial justice.

The resource curse

In a world as rich as ours, it’s wrong that communities rich in natural resources face poverty, corruption, and human rights violations. When countries rely too heavily on non-renewable natural resources, they often don’t invest what they earn in agriculture—which can distribute income more widely across society. When community lands are seized for pipelines or mines, farming and fishing communities suffer. Indigenous people and women are particularly vulnerable—governments and companies often overlook their concerns. And once committed to exploiting nonrenewable resources, governments do not always distribute revenues back to communities.

Where is all the money going?

Between 2010 and 2014, oil produced in developing countries is conservatively estimated to be worth $1.55 trillion for their governments.

In many countries, oil revenues flow to governments with little or no transparency so it’s impossible to know if this money is being used for roads, schools, or hospitals … or if it is being siphoned off into corruption.

Oxfam is part of a world-wide movement calling for greater transparency in oil, gas, and mining revenues so people can use these revenues to fight poverty. Congress is considering repealing a vital piece of legislation called Section 1504 that requires oil, gas, and mining companies to disclose payments they make to the US and foreign governments. Passing this law established the United States as a leader in promoting transparency and fighting corruption. Today, this vital anti-corruption law is facing the chopping block. Join us in our campaign help people get the information they need to hold their government accountable for responsible use of their wealth.