The United Nations wants to prevent a race for critical raw materials needed for the energy transition. Demand will probably almost triple by 2030, estimates a team of experts convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. They propose how sustainable and environmentally friendly extraction of these raw materials and fair access for all countries can be ensured.
It’s about minerals that are needed for clean energy, be it in wind turbines, solar cells, electric vehicles or battery storage. This includes rare earths, lithium, copper, nickel and cobalt.
Fairness and human rights
The team of experts shows how fairness, transparency, sustainability and human rights can be ensured during mining and along the entire value chain – including refining, transport and recycling.
At the COP28 World Climate Conference in 2023, countries agreed to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 and double energy efficiency – in other words, to reduce energy demand. This is intended to reduce the use of climate-damaging fossil fuels. The aim is to limit warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels in order to keep the effects of climate change as low as possible.
Opportunity for poorer countries
Many critical raw materials are found in poorer countries. For them, the energy transition should be an opportunity to further process their natural resources, thereby creating jobs and boosting their economy, instead of just exporting the materials as raw materials, according to the team of experts.
Among other things, it recommends a committee within the United Nations to coordinate the dialogue between all interest groups. Global standards should also be developed to trace the origin and processing of minerals. A fund should provide money for the professional dismantling of abandoned mines. Small entrepreneurs should be enabled to work in the industry.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240911-930-229990/1
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