Ford, General Motors and others are striking deals with mining companies to avoid raw material shortages that could thwart their electric vehicle ambitions.
In the North, some mines risk leaking acid if the permafrost melts, while across Canada heavier rainfall will add strain to tailings dams and a lack of it could throw operations.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is trying for the third time to craft a rule requiring transparency by oil and mining companies. Critics say it's unacceptably toothless and not in keeping with an 11-year-old law.