The State of Play for Critical Mineral Policies: A Berlin Climate Security Conference Roundtable

Oct 23, 2023 | Claire Doyle
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The global transition to low-carbon energy is spurring new momentum to produce and secure the mineral inputs necessary for renewable technologies. Yet meeting demand may prove difficult. From electric cars to wind turbines, essential renewable energy technologies often require more minerals than fossil fuel-powered infrastructure. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement could lead to a fourfold increase in mineral demand by 2040.

A recent wave of policy developments reflects this sharpening focus on critical mineral supply chains: The US Inflation Reduction Act, the multilateral Mineral Security Partnership, the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act, the new EU Batteries Regulation, Zimbabwe’s export ban on unprocessed lithium, and others.

Earlier this month, the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program convened a roundtable discussion on critical minerals at the Berlin Climate Security Conference, which was hosted jointly by adelphi and the German Foreign Federal Office. The session focused on assessing the evolving landscape of critical mineral policies—and what it means for different players in the global energy transition.