Distant benefits, localized impacts: governing critical mineral supply chains for a just transition

The benefits of critical minerals flow along global supply chains, while environmental and social impacts are concentrated in producing regions. As global demand grows, driven by the energy transition, artificial intelligence, data centres, and defence and security needs, how can governments and international organisations ensure that critical mineral supply chains support a just and sustainable transition?

This event will explore the governance challenges of critical mineral supply chains, examining how global demand can be balanced with environmental limits, social equity and the development priorities of producing regions.

Somya Joshi, SEI Research Director, will open the discussion with insights from SEI’s Mining and Minerals programme, which brings together research across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Drawing on experiences from Latin America, the session will highlight multi-stakeholder dialogue on copper governance in Colombia and SEI research on lithium in Argentina, including participatory water modelling and the integration of Indigenous knowledge into impact assessments.

A panel discussion will bring together perspectives from the United Nations, producing-country governments, the semiconductor industry and mining-affected communities. Panellists will explore how participation, cumulative impact assessment, transparency, accountability and benefit-sharing can help connect global supply-chain decisions with local realities.

The discussion will contribute to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 15 (Life on Land) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

The session will inform a short post-event brief identifying priorities for more inclusive and accountable critical mineral supply chains.