UN-convened panel releases recommendations for inclusive use of minerals critical for the energy transition

New York, 11 September 2024 -- With demand for minerals critical to renewable energy technologies expected to almost triple by 2030, a diverse expert panel, convened by the UN Secretary-General, has issued a set of recommendations and guiding principles for governments, industry and other stakeholders to ensure the opportunities of the global energy transition are pursued with equity, justice and sustainability.

"Today's report from the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals is a how-to guide to help generate prosperity and equality alongside clean power," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. "This report identifies ways to ground the renewables revolution in justice and equity, so that it spurs sustainable development, respects people, protects the environment, and powers prosperity in resource-rich developing countries."

Africa will play a central role in the global supply of these minerals. The region already produces over 70 per cent of the world's cobalt, over half of its manganese, and significant shares of global graphite, copper, bauxite and other minerals critical for the energy transition. Yet Africa's ambitions are to add value to these minerals, move up in global value chains and ensure a truly inclusive and developmental use of its mineral endowments, as per the tenets of the 2009 Africa Mining Vision.

For this reason, the work of the panel and its recommendations are extremely relevant for Africa.

The panel, established by the UN Secretary-General on 26 April 2024, brought together governments, intergovernmental and international organizations, industry, and civil society to build trust, guide the just transition and accelerate the race to renewables. Africa was very well represented on this panel, with nine of the 25 government and intergovernmental actors on the panel coming from Africa.

ECA has facilitated the participation of African member States in this process, including through two interactive consultations and inputs through the Technical Advisory Group informing the panel's deliberations.

The panel's report - Resourcing the energy transition: principles to guide critical energy transition minerals towards equity and justice - puts forward recommendations for fairness, transparency, investment, sustainability and human rights along the entire minerals value chain.

As next steps, the Secretary General asked the Co-Chairs and Panel to socialize the report and its recommendations with Member States and other stakeholders ahead of COP29 later this year.

To access the report, the list of panel members, and more, please visit: www.un.org/en/climatechange/critical-minerals