Image Source: UNEP, The UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Mineral meeting in Nairobi, Aug' 24

As the global demand for minerals crucial to renewable energy technologies is set to nearly triple by 2030, a groundbreaking report from a UN-convened panel is calling for a fair and sustainable approach to the energy transition. The panel’s recommendations are designed to ensure that the shift to clean energy benefits all stakeholders equitably and responsibly.

"This report is a vital roadmap for balancing prosperity and clean energy," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. "It offers actionable guidance on how to integrate fairness and justice into every step of the energy transition, ensuring that we drive sustainable development while respecting human rights and protecting our environment." Guterres also emphasized that the panel will engage with member states and other stakeholders to refine and promote these recommendations in advance of COP29 later this year.

The report, titled "Resourcing the Energy Transition: Principles to Guide Critical Energy Transition Minerals Towards Equity and Justice," outlines key principles and recommendations to ensure that the surge in demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel does not come at the expense of environmental sustainability or social justice.

Key Principles for a Just Transition

The panel’s recommendations are grounded in seven Guiding Principles:

1. Human Rights: Upholding human rights throughout the entire mineral value chain.

2. Environmental Protection: Safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity impacted by mining.

3. Equity and Justice: Ensuring fairness in the distribution of benefits from mineral resources.

4. Development and Benefit Sharing: Promoting economic development and equitable benefit-sharing.

5. Responsible Investment: Committing to fair and sustainable investment practices.

6. Transparency and Accountability: Enhancing governance through clear, accountable practices.

7. Global Cooperation: Fostering international collaboration to achieve shared prosperity and security.

Actionable Steps to Transform the Energy Landscape

To turn these principles into reality, the panel has proposed several actionable measures:

• High-Level Expert Advisory Group: Establishing a UN-based group to facilitate global policy dialogue and coordination on economic issues related to minerals.

• Global Traceability Framework: Implementing a comprehensive system to track minerals from extraction to recycling, ensuring transparency and accountability.

• Global Mining Legacy Fund: Creating a fund to address issues arising from abandoned mines and support responsible mine closure and rehabilitation.

• Empowerment of Artisanal Miners: Supporting small-scale miners to enhance their practices and contribute to sustainable development.

• Material Efficiency and Circular Economy: Setting targets to improve the efficiency and recycling of critical minerals.

Urgency and Opportunity in the Energy Transition

The need for these minerals is urgent. At COP28, nations committed to tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that demand for critical minerals will nearly triple by the end of the decade to support this global transition.

Developing countries rich in these minerals stand to gain significantly by diversifying their economies and creating green jobs. However, the potential for positive change is overshadowed by risks of exacerbating existing challenges if the sector is not managed responsibly. The report highlights the need for a balanced approach that addresses these challenges while maximizing benefits for all.

A Call for Unified Action

Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa, Co-Chair of the panel, underscored the importance of global unity in addressing these issues: "In a time of interconnected crises, we must act together with a shared commitment to human rights, justice, and equity. Our development efforts must reflect these values to ensure a just and prosperous future for all."

Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy at the European Commission and Co-Chair of the panel, echoed this sentiment: "The principles laid out in this report represent a crucial step towards making the energy transition a reality. By learning from past mistakes and committing to equitable practices, we can harness the full potential of this transition and create lasting benefits."

The panel’s recommendations mark a significant moment in the global energy transition, providing a clear and principled path forward. As the world prepares for COP29, the focus will be on implementing these guidelines to ensure that the move towards renewable energy is both just and effective.