UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Critical Minerals – Selected Online Resources

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Critical energy transition minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies – from wind turbines and solar panels to electric vehicles and battery storage. Demand for critical minerals is set to almost triple by 2030 as the world transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy in order to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050.

Source: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/critical-minerals

UN Entities

The UN Secretary-General’s Initiative on Critical Energy Transition Minerals
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/critical-minerals
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- Critical Minerals: https://unctad.org/topic/commodities/critical-minerals
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- Global Alliance for Responsible and Green Minerals: https://www.unido.org/global-alliance
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
- - Critical Raw Materials: https://unece.org/unece-and-sdgs/critical-raw-materials
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Critical Energy Transition Minerals: https://www.unep.org/topics/energy/renewable-energy/critical-energy-transition-minerals
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
- Crimes associated with critical minerals: https://unicri.org/crimes-associated-critical-minerals
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- Minerals crime: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/environment-climate/minerals.html
World Trade Organization (WTO) & Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Trade in Critical Minerals Database: https://critmin.org/

UN Events & Conferences

Security Council, 10200th Meeting, 22 July 2026: Maintenance of international peace and security – Natural resources governance: the foundation of peace, security and prosperity
- Critical Minerals Explainer: https://www.un.org/en/explainers/critical-minerals
- Concept Note: https://docs.un.org/S/2026/552
- Press Release: https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16419.doc.htm
- News Centre Stories: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1167995 and https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1168024
- Meeting Records: https://docs.un.org/S/PV.10200
- Webcasts: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1s/k1sa86m4dn and https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k13/k13v1mba1m
Security Council, 10114th meeting, 5 March 2026: Maintenance of international peace and security – Energy, critical minerals and security
- Press Release: https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16310.doc.htm
- News Centre Story: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167084
- Meeting Records: https://docs.un.org/S/PV.10114
- Webcast: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k12/k12uy13vbi
High-Level Meeting on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, 14 July 2026
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/critical-minerals
- Webcast: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1d/k1dz6fpspm
Expert Group Meeting: The Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including those in voluntary isolation and initial contact in the context of the extraction of critical Minerals, 2-4 December 2024
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/events/egm-2024

Further Information

UN News Centre on “Critical Minerals”: https://news.un.org/en/tags/critical-minerals
Minerals must benefit countries, communities, not finance criminals, conflict (UNECA, 6 August 2026): https://www.uneca.org/stories/minerals-must-benefit-countries%2C-communities%2C-not-finance-criminals%2C-conflict
Video – Critical Minerals: DRC’s vision for Peace (31 July 2026): https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1n/k1nvw5qd7w
In this interview, Professor Jean-Marie Kanda, Senior Advisor to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for Mining, Energy, and Hydrocarbons, explains why critical minerals have become a global strategic issue and outlines the country’s vision for a more transparent, traceable, and responsibly governed mining sector.
Video – Critical Minerals – Who pays the price? (29 July 2026): https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k12/k12igiet6p
Kaveh Madani, Director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), explains what critical minerals are, why supply chain disruptions carry major economic and security consequences, and how the absence of global governance risks creating new “sacrifice zones” – communities left with pollution and human rights violations while the benefits flow elsewhere.
Video – The Hidden Cost of Critical Minerals (21 July 2026): https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k19/k19wbbww4i
The digital revolution depends on critical minerals—but who benefits, and who pays the price?
Critical minerals: The hidden resources powering the clean energy future (22 June 2026): https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1167990
5 Facts on Critical Minerals and the Waste We Can’t Afford (United Nations University, UNU-EHS, 28 April 2026): https://unu.edu/ehs/article/5-facts-critical-minerals-and-waste-we-cant-afford
Mining companies must obtain free, prior, informed consent, partner with indigenous peoples to ensure responsible, ethical land use, speakers tell Permanent Forum (HR/5491, 23 April 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/hr5491.doc.htm
United Nations-Convened Panel releases recommendations for governments, industry to guide global energy transition (EN/332, 11 September 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/en332.doc.htm
UN Secretary-General appoints Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals (SG/A/2286, 26 April 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sga2286.doc.htm

Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials

Put stop to exploitation, plundering of natural resources, Secretary-General Urges Security Council, calling for strong governance grounded in justice, transparency (SG/SM/23228, 22 July 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23228.doc.htm
Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the High-level meeting on Critical Energy Transition Minerals (14 July 2026): https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/dsg/statements/2026-07-14/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-high-level-meeting-critical-energy-transition-minerals-prepared-for-delivery
UN High-Level Meeting on Critical Energy Transition Minerals / Statement by Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General and Acting Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 14 July 2026: https://unctad.org/osgstatement/un-high-level-meeting-critical-energy-transition-minerals
As earth nears tipping point, time to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy to protect people, planet is now, Secretary-General tells London Climate Action Week (SG/SM/23189, 23 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23189.doc.htm
Time to supercharge clean energy transition, Secretary-General tells London Summit, urging more investment in modern systems, stronger international cooperation (SG/SM/23191, 23 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23191.doc.htm
Fair and responsible harnessing of critical minerals can help promote peace, USG DiCarlo tells Security Council (5 March 2026): https://dppa.un.org/en/speeches-and-statements/fair-and-responsible-harnessing-of-critical-minerals-can-help-promote
‘We must ensure critical mineral resources in developing countries benefit them’, says Secretary-General, in Remarks to Group of 77 (SG/SM/22520, 13 January 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22520.doc.htm
Action for justice and equity must surge alongside demand for minerals critical to energy transition, Secretary-General tells Meeting at Baku Climate Conference (SG/SM/22454, 13 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22454.doc.htm
We must safeguard rights of resource-rich states ‘to benefit from their minerals while protecting their communities, ecosystems’, says Deputy Secretary-General (DSG/SM/1951, 4 November 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/dsgsm1951.doc.htm
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks to the Member States briefing on the outcomes of the Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals
‘Deliver renewable energy that powers a fairer, more just future for all’, says Secretary-General, on launch of Energy Transition Minerals Report (SG/SM/22361, 11 September 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/22361.doc.htm
Stressing race to net-zero carbon emissions cannot trample on poor, Secretary-General, at Panel launch, urges fair management of critical minerals during energy transition (SG/SM/22205, 26 April 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22205.doc.htm
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the launch of the Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals

Selected UN Documents

A/HRC/62/30 (8 April 2026): Panel discussion on the rights of Indigenous Peoples: report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/62/30
Panel held during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council, under the theme “the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of a just transition to sustainable energy systems, including in relation to critical minerals”.
E/C.19/2025/6 (3 February 2025): The rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of critical minerals to ensure a just transition: note / by the Secretariat: https://docs.un.org/E/C.19/2025/6
Transmits study by members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim and Hannah McGlade.
E/C.19/2025/4 (30 January 2025): International expert group meeting on the theme “The rights of Indigenous Peoples, including those in voluntary isolation and initial contact in the context of critical minerals: note / by the Secretariat: https://docs.un.org/E/C.19/2025/4
Further documents on “Mineral Resources”: https://tinyurl.com/mtycaucs
Further documents on “Minerals”: https://tinyurl.com/59ape5mj