Critical Raw Materials

🌱 Why was the UN panel set up? The UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals was set up on 26 April 2024. At COP28, several “resource-rich developing countries” had voiced that they were “experiencing issues along the[ir] minerals value chain”. The UN panel was founded in response to a propos

🌱 Who is on the panel? On 26 April 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched a new panel on “critical energy transition minerals”. It currently consists of close to 100 countries. Most of the largest producing and consuming countries are on the panel. Both countries from the Global North

🌱 Is the use of renewable technologies increasing? According to the IEA, “[c]lean energy technologies had another record year” in 2023. Compared to the previous year, the use of solar PV technologies and of wind turbines grew by 85% and 60% respectively in 2023. Over 40 GW of battery storage capaci

🌱 What key environmental issues persist in mining? The IEA report highlights that little progress is being made on improving sustainability in the production of critical minerals. According to the IEA, there was no meaningful decrease in the production of emissions by 20 major companies in the sect