The need for joined-up thinking in critical raw materials research

Abstract

Critical raw materials (CRMs) will be a cornerstone of the energy transition. CRMs were recognized early by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a prime part of the mitigation effort for climate change and, as such, research into the genesis of key metals, as well as the sustainability of their mining, should be a priority. However, research is geopolitically influenced by the security of supply concerns of nations or economic groups of nations such as the EU, Japan, the USA and China. Many research networks and programmes are aimed at resource security; and where collaboration does exist it is along geopolitical lines, potentially disadvantaging developing countries and their efforts to implement UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). This contrasts with efforts in research such as those of the IPCC that are more collaborative and suited to rising to global challenges. We suggest that international organizations such as the International Union of Geological Sciences with its long international history, SDG focus and new focus on data (through the Deep-time Digital Earth (DDE) programme) should be involved in research prioritization unhindered by geopolitical considerations. Like climate change, the challenge of CRMs is too big to tackle in a competitive, geopolitically influenced manner. Thematic collection: This article is part of the energy-critical metals for a low carbon transition collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/critical-metals