As the global push toward clean energy accelerates, demand for critical raw materials — such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements — has soared. These materials are essential for the technology that powers the green transition, from electric vehicle batteries to renewable energy infrastructure. In recent years, as countries have recognized their necessity for sustainable infrastructure, there has been a race to control them. Now, the green transition includes yet another challenge: ensuring that the extraction and governance of critical raw materials benefit everyone, not just the powerful.
Without stronger governance standards, there’s a risk that low- and middle-income countries will fail to reap the benefits of the resources they produce, experts warn. “The urgency around climate action means that … speed [is] privileged over justice and equity, and that those key communities and voices are being sidelined at a time when they matter the most,” said Suneeta Kaimal, president and chief executive officer of the Natural Resource Governance Institute.
At an event hosted by Devex in partnership with Open Society Foundations, experts from civil society, academia, think tanks, and the minerals sector came together to discuss the importance of international cooperation in addressing governance imbalances and preventing resource exploitation.
Watch the video to hear insights from Suneeta Kaimal; Olena Pavlenko, president and co-founder of DiXi Group; responsible sourcing expert Cristina Villegas; Pedro Abramovay and Brian Kagoro of the Open Society Foundations; and Benjamín García, executive director of Espacio Público.
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