The global race to secure materials like lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements is gathering speed. Already in high demand from industries like electronics and defense, these “critical minerals” have become even more sought-after as the world moves toward clean energy technologies like wind, solar and electric vehicles.

This presents an environmental and social conundrum: Critical minerals are one of the keys to a cleaner future, but mining them can bring risks to ecosystems and communities. Plus, the high concentration of mineral reserves and processing in a handful of countries is stirring geopolitical tensions. 

So, what will it take for the world to meet this growing demand responsibly?

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The bulk of the world’s critical minerals are mined and processed in just a handful of countries, which is adding to geopolitical tensions as global demand rises.