Traceability of critical minerals: UN calls for rigorous global framework

The UN is proposing a global traceability system for critical minerals, crucial to the energy transition, to prevent social and environmental abuses in their supply chain.
Mine de terres rares

Partagez:

With the rise of renewable energies and the increasing production of electric vehicles, global demand for critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, lithium and rare earths is intensifying.
These raw materials are essential for the manufacture of batteries and electronic components.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), demand for these minerals could quadruple by 2040 to meet targets for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
This strong demand is leading to fears of shortages and market tensions, exacerbated by often opaque mining practices.
To oversee this growth, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has set up a committee of experts to develop guidelines to ensure more responsible exploitation of these resources.
The group, made up of representatives from government ministries, non-governmental organizations and mining sector specialists, recently presented a set of seven guiding principles designed to frame the production chain for critical minerals.

Towards a framework of transparency and accountability

UN experts advocate the adoption of a global system of traceability, transparency and accountability covering the entire supply chain of critical minerals.
This system would be based on an independent assessment of the environmental and social performance of mining companies, including criteria such as workers’ rights, respect for local communities, greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts.
This approach aims to harmonize existing practices and create a common framework for all players, from producer countries to processing companies.
The proposal for such a traceability system comes at a time when the practices of certain mining companies, particularly in developing countries, are often criticized for their lack of transparency and for human rights violations.
Indeed, the benefits of natural resource exploitation are not always equitably shared, leaving local communities without adequate compensation despite the negative impacts on their environment and health.

Benefit sharing and rehabilitation of mining sites

To complement this transparency framework, the UN committee recommends the establishment of a global fund financed by governments and companies.
The aim of this fund would be to support the rehabilitation of mining sites after closure, and to compensate the local populations affected.
This is a measure to remedy the legacy of many past mining projects, where abandoned and unrehabilitated sites continue to cause considerable environmental and health damage.
The fund would also encourage more responsible mining practices and promote a better distribution of profits.
Developing countries, often the main suppliers of these critical minerals, would thus be able to obtain a fairer return on the exploitation of their natural resources.
The report points out that without such an approach, inequalities between producer and consumer countries will continue to grow, to the detriment of local populations.

The challenges of global implementation

While the principles established by the UN committee of experts provide an ambitious framework, their implementation remains complex.
The creation of a global traceability system would require the commitment and cooperation of multiple players, from governments to private companies.
Moreover, the mining sector is marked by a diversity of national practices and regulations, making standardization of standards and processes difficult to achieve.
The need for independent assessment adds a further layer of complexity, particularly in terms of financing and governance.
The experts also highlight the importance of reducing dependence on critical minerals through more responsible consumption and recycling of materials.
This includes technological innovation, which could reduce the quantity of minerals needed in renewable technologies.
However, these advances are not yet widespread, and their large-scale adoption remains uncertain.

A framework for more responsible operations

While some industry players are considering exploring new mining frontiers, such as the seabed, the UN committee’s report focuses solely on landmines, where social and environmental impacts are already well documented.
This focus could, at first, help to answer critics while offering a more tangible framework for implementation.
However, there are already calls to extend this framework to the new forms of exploitation on the horizon.
The question of traceability of critical minerals is now being raised on the international stage as a key issue in the energy transition.
The UN committee’s proposals could serve as a basis for future negotiations aimed at establishing international standards.
However, their success will depend on the commitment of stakeholders and the collective will to make the mining sector more transparent, accountable and equitable.

Budapest and Bratislava jointly reject the European Commission's proposal to ban Russian energy supplies, highlighting significant economic risks and a direct threat to their energy security, days ahead of a key meeting.
Libya officially contests Greece's allocation of offshore oil permits, exacerbating regional tensions over disputed maritime areas south of Crete, rich in hydrocarbons and contested by several Mediterranean states.
Hungary, supported by Slovakia, strongly expresses opposition to the European Commission's plan to phase out imports of Russian energy resources, citing major economic and energy impacts for Central Europe.
Israeli military strikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear site destroyed critical electrical infrastructure but did not reach strategic underground facilities, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The French president travels to Nuuk on 15 June to support Greenlandic sovereignty, review energy projects and respond to recent US pressure, according to the Élysée.
Kazakhstan has selected Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation to build two nuclear power plants totaling 2.4 GW, a decision following a favorable referendum and coinciding with Xi Jinping’s upcoming strategic visit.
Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear sites disrupt US-Iranian talks on the nuclear deal. Tehran now considers canceling the upcoming negotiation round in Oman, heightening regional economic concerns.
Facing alarming breaches of uranium enrichment thresholds by Iran and explicit existential threats, Israel launches targeted military strikes against Iranian nuclear infrastructure, escalating regional tensions dramatically.
The Kremlin has confirmed that Vladimir Putin aims to help resolve the nuclear dispute between the United States and Iran, leveraging strengthened strategic ties with Tehran.
President Lee Jae-myung adopts an energy diplomacy rooted in national interest, amid a complex international landscape of rivalries that could create challenging situations for the country and its energy businesses.
Paris and Warsaw held a bilateral workshop in Warsaw to strengthen coordination on electricity infrastructure investments and supply security under the Nancy Treaty.
Donald Trump firmly rejects any uranium enrichment by Iran, while Russia affirms Tehran’s right to civil nuclear power, intensifying tensions in negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program.
Syria has signed a $7bn agreement with a consortium of companies from Qatar, Turkey and the United States to rebuild its national power sector.
Friedrich Merz confirmed that Germany would block any attempt to relaunch the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite internal calls suggesting a potential reopening of dialogue with Moscow.
A memorandum of understanding formalises energy cooperation between the European Union and the Latin American Energy Organization, including permanent EU participation in the organisation’s governance bodies.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary would oppose the EU's plan to ban Russian energy deliveries by 2027, both legally and politically.
Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of Saxony, proposed restarting dialogue with Russia on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite clear opposition from the German government to any reactivation of the project.
Donald Trump is calling on the United Kingdom to abandon wind energy in favor of revitalizing offshore oil extraction, sparking debate over the economic and political implications of such an energy strategy after their recent trade agreement.
China and Egypt concluded over 30 energy-focused agreements, including electric vehicles, smart grids and storage technologies.
Facing Russian dominance in the Akkuyu nuclear project, Turkey accelerates international negotiations, aiming to mitigate risks related to energy dependency and potential strategic conflicts of interest.