minerals-energy-food-mef-complex

This research paper introduces the 'minerals-energy-food (MEF) complex', a new analytical framework designed to address the limitations of existing natural resource governance frameworks, which the authors argue fail to differentiate between physical resources and traded commodities or capture global drivers of resource use.

• The MEF complex identifies significant power asymmetries in resource flows, where extraction is concentrated in low-income, resource-rich nations while processing and consumption benefits are concentrated in emerging and wealthy economies. A specific example is cobalt mining, where 60% of extraction takes place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the value-chain benefits primarily accrue to high-income countries and emerging economies.
• Current governance systems—including climate negotiations and trade regimes—are fragmented and operate in silos, failing to coherently address interconnected challenges. This fragmentation, combined with complex global supply chains, means that climate impacts at extraction sites can create cascading risks across entire economic systems.
• The authors argue that integrated approaches are urgently required for decision-makers to navigate trade-offs and ensure sustainable resource management. Failure to understand these complexities may lead to increased inequalities, resource-based conflicts, and the undermining of sustainable development and climate action.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2025). minerals-energy-food-mef-complex. https://www.sei.org/publications/minerals-energy-food-mef-complex/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. minerals-energy-food-mef-complex. 2025. https://www.sei.org/publications/minerals-energy-food-mef-complex/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=minerals-energy-food-mef-complex |date=1 July 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/minerals-energy-food-mef-complex/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2025mineralsenergyfoodmefcomplex, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{minerals-energy-food-mef-complex}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/minerals-energy-food-mef-complex/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }