Every electric vehicle, wind turbine, solar panel, and smartphone depends on minerals extracted from the earth. As nations accelerate the transition to clean, non-fossil fuel energy, demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and graphite is rising rapidly.

This surge presents unprecedented economic opportunities for many countries. However, in some regions, competition over these resources has led to conflict, misconduct, environmental damage, and human rights abuses.

The UN Security Council is currently addressing a key question: can the minerals powering the green transition also serve as a foundation for peace and sustainable development?

Demand for critical minerals is expected to triple by 2030 as renewable energy and battery technologies expand globally. Offshore wind facilities require approximately 13 times more mineral resources than gas-fired power plants, underscoring the scale of resource needs.

Many analysts now liken the strategic importance of these minerals to that of oil in the twentieth century.

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