Closing the Infrastructure Gap for Decarbonization: The Case for an Integrated Mineral Supply AgreementClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Saleem H. AliSaleem H. AliDepartment of Geography & Spatial Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United StatesSustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4070, AustraliaMore by Saleem H. Ali
- Sophia Kalantzakos*Sophia Kalantzakos*Email: [email protected]Department of Environmental Studies, New York University/NYU Abu Dhabi, New York, New York 10003, United StatesMore by Sophia Kalantzakos
- Roderick EggertRoderick EggertColorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United StatesMore by Roderick Eggert
- Roland Gauss
- Constantine KarayannopoulosConstantine KarayannopoulosNeo Performance Materials Inc., Toronto, Ontario M5H 3T9, CanadaMore by Constantine Karayannopoulos
- Julie KlingerJulie KlingerDepartment of Geography & Spatial Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United StatesMore by Julie Klinger
- Xiaoyu PuXiaoyu PuDepartment of Political Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, United StatesMore by Xiaoyu Pu
- Kristin VekasiKristin VekasiDepartment of Political Science and School of Policy and International Affairs, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, United StatesMore by Kristin Vekasi
- Robert K. PerronsRobert K. PerronsQueensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, AustraliaCentre for Strategy and Performance, University of Cambridge Cambridge, CB3 0FS, United KingdomMore by Robert K. Perrons
Abstract
Significant amounts of feedstock metals will be required to build the infrastructure for the green energy transition. It is currently estimated, however, that the world may be facing an “infrastructure gap” that could prevent us from meeting United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets. Prior investigations have focused on the extractive aspects of the mining industry to meet these targets and on looming bottlenecks and regional challenges in these upstream market segments. Scant attention has been paid to the downstream processing segments of the raw materials value chain, which also has a high degree of market concentration. Growing international tensions and geopolitical events have resulted in a shift toward “reshoring” and “near-shoring” of mining processing capabilities as regional powers attempt to make metal supply chains more secure. While increasing resilience, these shifts can also dilute the overall effectiveness of the global mining supply network and subsequently hamper the world’s ability to close the green energy infrastructure gap. We argue that broadening the remit of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to include coordinating these mission-critical metal processing functions can mitigate these issues. The G20 is one potential forum for enabling an integrated mineral processing agreement under the auspices of IRENA.
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