Co-hosted by UNEP, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and TESS, this roundtable aimed to identify issues at the nexus of trade in critical minerals, climate action, and sustainable development, and to explore possible approaches and pathways for enhanced international cooperation.

This roundtable brought together leading experts from international organizations and think tanks, governments, and stakeholder organisations to discuss issues at the nexus of trade in critical minerals, energy transitions, climate action, and sustainable development, and to explore possible approaches and pathways for enhanced international cooperation.

It reviewed the role of critical minerals in climate action and energy transitions, the implications for trade, and the opportunities and risks from developing country perspectives.

It examined trade-related initiatives and policy developments on critical minerals and their implications for global supply chains, and the integration and economic diversification of developing countries.

It reviewed sustainability challenges associated with production, processing and supply of critical minerals and the role of trade and circularity in promoting sustainable and equitable critical minerals supply chains.

It explored cooperative approaches to trade in critical minerals and avenues for international cooperation initiatives for sustainable and pro-development critical minerals supply chains.

It contributed to ongoing efforts to foster multilateral cooperation, such as the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

Programme, speakers, presentations and documents: TESS - Trade in Minerals and Climate Action (tessforum.org)