Copper shortage could be the undoing of COP31 electrification push

Global Witness warns that the global push for electrification, highlighted by priorities for COP31 and plans in the EU and China, faces a critical bottleneck due to copper shortages. The organization identifies declining copper grades, supply chain disruptions of sulphuric acid (essential for processing), and export bans on concentrates in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, and Tanzania as primary threats. To prevent high-income countries from monopolizing resources, Global Witness proposes a UN-led multi-decade plan to ensure equitable access to minerals and prioritize climate goals over military or data center applications.

• Electrification is becoming a central political priority for major economies, including Türkiye's focus for COP31, the EU's fast-track plans for heat pumps and electrification, and China's goal for renewables to exceed fossil energy generation by 2030.
• The copper supply chain is under pressure from declining ore grades and the disruption of sulphuric acid supplies, which is necessary for processing copper and nickel but is also being diverted for agricultural use in countries like China due to climate-stressed crops.
• Resource nationalism is increasing as countries implement export controls on copper and cobalt concentrates to capture more value chain benefits, specifically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, and Tanzania, with Zambia considering tariffs and licensing.
• Global Witness advocates for a UN-led multilateral framework to create a multi-decade plan for fair mineral access, arguing that G7 and G20 are too exclusive and that climate goals should be prioritized over military applications and data centers.

APA

Global Witness (2026). Copper shortage could be the undoing of COP31 electrification push. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/copper-shortage-could-be-the-undoing-of-cop31-electrification-push/

Chicago

Global Witness. Copper shortage could be the undoing of COP31 electrification push. 2026. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/copper-shortage-could-be-the-undoing-of-cop31-electrification-push/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Global Witness |title=Copper shortage could be the undoing of COP31 electrification push |date=21 July 2026 |url=https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/copper-shortage-could-be-the-undoing-of-cop31-electrification-push/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{globalwitness2026copper, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Copper shortage could be the undoing of COP31 electrification push}}, publisher = {Global Witness}, year = {2026}, month = jul, url = {https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/copper-shortage-could-be-the-undoing-of-cop31-electrification-push/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }