UN calls for fair play in global race for critical minerals

According to the International Energy Agency (an autonomous international agency not part of the United Nations system), demand for lithium grew by almost 30 percent in 2024, and demand for nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earths by 6 to 8 percent. percent. The growth of electric vehicles, batteries and renewable energy is driving a significant increase in demand for critical minerals.

From the Secretary-General of the United Nations to various agencies and entities, the United Nations system has been issuing guidance, convening meetings and preparing reports on the extraction and exploitation of these minerals, with the aim of ensuring that as many people as possible benefit from a cleaner, low-carbon global economy.

Panel on critical minerals for the energy transition

• In April 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the Panel on Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition to ensure a just, equitable and sustainable transition that fully benefits all countries and communities endowed with these minerals.
• Later that year, the panel released its first report, which Guterres described as a “practical guide to help deliver prosperity and equality alongside clean energy.”
• The report identifies ways to ground the renewable energy revolution in justice and equity so that it stimulates sustainable development, respects people, protects the environment and generates prosperity in resource-rich developing countries.

UN guidance for action on critical minerals for the energy transition

• The guide, produced in June 2025, proposes measures to ensure that minerals critical to the energy transition are extracted and used in ways that promote human rights, environmental protection and equitable development. It is structured around three basic principles:
• Human rights must be central. This means human rights due diligence; impact evaluations; free, prior and informed consent; protection of civic space; and robust grievance mechanisms.
• The environment and planetary integrity must be ensured, prioritizing robust environmental and social impact assessments, biodiversity protection, prohibited zones, decarbonisation, circular economy measures and the progressive rehabilitation of mining sites.
• Justice and equity throughout the system, with an emphasis on meaningful community participation, gender equality, inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and fair distribution of benefits.

“A great development opportunity”: UN trade agency

• According to the United Nations trade agency (UNCTAD), growing demand for critical minerals is reshaping geopolitical and industrial dynamics, placing resource-rich developing countries at the center of emerging value chains.
• The energy transition presents a “major development opportunity” for these nations: UNCTAD says that by moving from raw mineral exports to local processing and value addition, they can significantly increase economic returns. For example, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, local processing of cobalt almost tripled the value of exports, going from $167 million to $6 billion in 2022.

Serious environmental risks: UN environment agency

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is concerned that the expansion of mineral production brings serious environmental, social, economic and geopolitical risks.
• Mining and processing can lead to high greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, pollution, human rights abuses (including impacts on indigenous peoples), while supply shortages and tight markets contribute to price volatility, geopolitical tensions and pressure to open mines in sensitive areas.
• UNEP calls for mining governance to be extended throughout the value chain, not just at mining sites, and for international cooperation, transparent governance and greater collaboration between governments, industry and communities to be strengthened.