Published on: 2026-07-14
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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14 July 2026 Sustainable Development Goals
The transition to clean energy is impossible without copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other critical minerals. However, countries rich in these resources still receive only a small share of the benefits from their extraction. This was stated by the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at the opening of the UN’s first-ever high-level meeting dedicated to minerals essential for the energy transition.
According to her, the world is experiencing two interconnected crises at once – the climate crisis and the energy crisis – and both require a single solution: a rapid, fair, and inclusive transition to renewable energy sources.
“The transition to clean energy can no longer be stopped, but it must happen much faster,” Mohammed emphasized. She added that its benefits should be enjoyed by the people on whose land and labor this transition will be ensured.
Minerals essential for a “green” economy
Critically important minerals – copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, silicon, and rare earth elements – are the foundation of manufacturing electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, and industrial batteries. They are also increasingly used in digital technologies, healthcare, industry, and other strategically vital sectors.
According to UN estimates, by 2040 the global demand for such minerals will more than double. At the same time, the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the construction of new data centers could make this growth even more significant.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General noted that for developing countries endowed with rich mineral resources, this opens a unique opportunity to diversify the economy, create new jobs, increase government revenues, and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Resources without investments
However, today, according to Mohammed, the situation cannot be called fair. Many developing countries continue to export only raw materials, while the main profits are generated through their processing and manufacturing of finished products in other countries. Meanwhile, local communities in the areas where extraction takes place often face environmental pollution, unsafe working conditions, and limited opportunities for development.
As an example, she cited Africa. The continent holds about 30 percent of the world’s critical mineral reserves but receives only two percent of global clean energy investments. The lack of investment, Mohammed noted, slows down infrastructure development, training of skilled personnel, and adherence to environmental standards.
Moreover, the intensifying competition for access to Africa’s mineral resources is causing instability, forced population displacement, and armed conflicts.
Three steps to a just transition
“We cannot allow the transition to clean energy to replicate the injustices of the past,” emphasized the UN Deputy Secretary-General.
To avoid exploitation, she believes, the international community needs to act simultaneously on three fronts.
First of all, mining must bring real and sustainable benefits to producing countries and local communities. The UN has already prepared recommendations that include strengthening investment policies, protecting human rights, complying with environmental standards, and developing raw material processing directly in the extraction countries.
Mohammed named strengthening international cooperation as the second priority. According to her, the world needs transparent and sustainable supply chains based on fair partnerships between producers and consumers. She warned that bilateral deals, in which access to resources is exchanged for security guarantees or infrastructure projects, can increase developing countries’ dependence and undermine their sovereignty.
The third mandatory condition, according to the UN representative, is the unconditional observance of human rights and environmental protection at all stages of mineral extraction and processing.
“Human rights must be protected, respected, and ensured for everyone, including indigenous peoples, workers, children, youth, women, local communities, as well as environmental and human rights defenders,” she emphasized.
Mohammed called on governments, businesses, and international organizations to strengthen transparency, anti-corruption efforts, and environmental standards throughout the supply chain of critical minerals.
“As demand for critical minerals grows, fair governance, supply security, sustainability, and investments in processing and new technologies must also be strengthened,” she concluded.
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