Resourcing the Energy Transition

United Nations 2 years ago

The 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. Without proper management, the increasing demand for critical minerals risks perpetuating commodity dependence, exacerbating geopolitical tensions and environmental and social challenges, including impacts on livelihoods, the environment, health, human security and human rights, and can undermine efforts towards the energy transition. The Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals was established and tasked by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to develop a set of “global and common voluntary principles on issues which are key to building trust between governments, communities and industry, enhancing transparency and investment, and ensuring just and equitable management of sustainable, responsible and reliable value chains for terrestrial critical energy transition minerals.” The panel’s report – Resourcing the energy transition: principles to guide critical energy transition minerals towards equity and justice – 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. The report puts forward recommendations for fairness, transparency, investment, sustainability and human rights, not just where minerals are mined, but along the entire minerals value chain, from refining and manufacturing, to transport and end-of-use recycling.  The Secretary-General calls this report "a how-to guide to help generate prosperity and equality alongside clean power." It outlines seven Guiding Principles and five Actionable Recommendations 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.
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 4 hours ago



State influence and global finance are accelerating sustainable construction as a core industrial strategy. The nationalisation of British Steel illustrates a shift towards decarbonising the built environment through low carbon steel production, linking industrial preservation to a wider agenda of environmental sustainability in construction. Record climate finance of $163 billion demonstrates a new seriousness about funding net zero Whole Life Carbon transitions and supporting circular economy models essential to Life Cycle Cost optimisation and long-term resource efficiency in construction.

Infrastructure milestones underline the integration of sustainable building design into major projects. The HS2 green tunnel at Burton Green symbolises practical application of low carbon design principles through a Whole Life Carbon Assessment approach, embedding eco‑design for buildings into transport engineering. The Whittle Laboratory’s new green aviation facility highlights how lifecycle assessment and digital innovation enable low embodied carbon materials and net zero carbon buildings to move from research to implementation.

Policy inconsistencies remain. Delays to plastic recycling risk undermining circular economy in construction targets and the carbon footprint reduction goals that underpin sustainable building practices. Global deforestation warnings confirm that achieving carbon neutral construction depends on both material innovation and robust life cycle thinking in construction. With governments expanding direct ownership, investors channelling funds into green construction technologies, and new standards such as BREEAM v7 broadening assessment of embodied carbon in materials, the sector is redefining sustainable design through measurable whole life performance.

Sustainable architecture now extends beyond ambition to quantifiable delivery, embracing circular construction strategies, environmental product declarations, and end‑of‑life reuse in construction. The result is a maturing framework in which green infrastructure, low carbon building methods, and renewable building materials converge to cut the carbon footprint of construction and create a genuinely sustainable built environment.

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