Critical minerals and the energy transition: a climate security approach

A crucial pillar to address the climate crisis is phasing out of fossil fuels by expanding renewable energy capacity and mainstreaming green technology such as solar panels, wind turbines and electric cars. Such an increase in renewables will necessarily be accompanied by an increase in mining the critical minerals used in low-carbon energy technologies.

In this explainer video, experts Dr. Jewellord Nem Singh (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Héctor Morales Muñoz (adelphi) clarify which critical minerals are needed and where they can be found.

They also go through the different risks that an increased demand for critical minerals can pose for the environment, economy, local communities and its potential for generating or intensifying conflict, especially in areas already affected by climate change. This educational video also outlines how different stakeholders can prevent these risks by using the Mitigation Hierarchy approach.

Lastly, interviewed experts call for a climate- and conflict-sensitive approach to critical minerals mining to ensure that the energy transition does not cause harm to climate-affected and fragile communities.

Direction, production and scriptwriting: Laís Clemente Pereira (adelphi)
Script supervision: Héctor Camilo Morales Muñoz (adelphi)
Camera and editing: Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder)
The production of this video is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
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