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.
→ View Full Article

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 6 hours ago



Sustainable construction is moving from aspiration to liability management, with climate resilience, whole life carbon and verified emissions data now central to investment decisions.

The Environment Agency’s appointment of GRAHAM to deliver the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme signals the growing value of green infrastructure designed for climate adaptation. The scheme is expected to prevent more than £1.8bn in flood damage along the Thames, underlining how life cycle cost, building lifecycle performance and environmental sustainability in construction are becoming material financial considerations, not optional sustainability claims.

The circular economy is gaining practical force through the nationwide “Circularity in Practice” initiative, which aims to embed reuse, repair and material recovery into procurement, design and delivery. Circular economy in construction is shifting demolition waste from a disposal burden into an asset stream, strengthening resource efficiency in construction, end-of-life reuse in construction and circular construction strategies. For clients and contractors, sustainable material specification, low carbon construction materials, green building materials and environmental product declarations (EPDs) will become more important as supply chains face closer scrutiny over embodied carbon in materials and the carbon footprint of construction.

Carbon measurement is consolidating as Greenly acquires Normative to create what it describes as the world’s largest carbon-accounting platform. Better data will not cut emissions alone, but it will make whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment and carbon footprint reduction harder to ignore across fragmented construction supply chains. The move strengthens the case for low carbon design, sustainable building design, eco-design for buildings and sustainable design that targets net zero whole life carbon rather than narrow operational efficiency. It also supports the wider push towards net zero carbon buildings, low carbon building delivery and decarbonising the built environment.

Political risk remains significant. The Trump administration’s rollback of coal and gas power-plant pollution limits threatens slower grid decarbonisation, weakening the benefits of electrified, energy-efficient buildings and low-impact construction. Green construction, eco-friendly construction, renewable building materials and carbon neutral construction depend on the carbon intensity of the energy system as much as on sustainable building practices. The direction of travel is clear: sustainable architecture and sustainable urban development will be judged on resilience, embodied carbon, whole life carbon, net zero carbon performance and credible standards such as BREEAM and BREEAM v7.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.

Let's chat!
Avatar

WLC Assistant

Ask me about sustainability

Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?