THOUGHT LEADER
As the world intensifies efforts to combat climate change , the urgency to achieve net-zero emissions has never been clearer .
Governments , corporations and international organisations are all striving for a future where carbon emissions are balanced by removal efforts aiming to halt global warming .
However , the journey to a net zero world isn ’ t solely reliant on renewable energy technologies like wind , solar , and electric vehicles ( EVs ). It also hinges on something more fundamental - critical minerals .
The role of critical minerals in a net zero world These valuable commodities , including copper , nickel , uranium , rare earth elements ( REEs ), lithium and cobalt are the foundation of the technologies driving clean energy transition .
In short they are mission critical for efforts to rebalance the impact of deglobalising economies and trade , whilst concurrently aiding in the electrification of the world in what is the most ambitious energy transition our planet has seen in the last century .
Lithium-ion batteries , including cobalt , already power devices from smartphones to electric vehicles ; copper is extensively used in electrical wiring for solar panels , wind farms , plus grid and charging infrastructure , while nickel plays a critical role in EV batteries .
90 January 2025