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This report examines the role of trade and investment agreements in the supply of critical minerals, analyzing over 100 agreements and MOUs with a focus on Indonesia, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It highlights a shift toward incorporating ESG provisions in new treaties and emphasizes the need for practical implementation of MOUs to balance the interests of importing and exporting nations while supporting sustainable resource governance.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the role of trade and investment agreements in the critical minerals boom, highlighting the tension between importing countries' desire for stable raw material access and exporting countries' goals for domestic value addition and sustainability.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that the Fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4), scheduled for July 2025, must explicitly include the taxation of natural resources in its agenda to enhance domestic resource mobilization in developing nations.

This policy brief argues that Africa must transition from a reliance on international financial institutions to a model of economic, mineral, and energy sovereignty to unlock the full potential of its mining sector. The authors propose a 'resource leverage strategy' to exchange mineral access for technology transfer and local beneficiation, while advocating for the creation of independent African financial institutions and standardized resource reporting to reduce dependency on the Global North.

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) and E3G examines the intersection of global trade, climate policy, and the energy transition. It analyzes how the shift away from fossil fuels reshapes geopolitical power and trade flows, highlighting the disproportionate risks and opportunities for developing countries. The document advocates for proactive trade policy reforms, increased financial support, and international coordination to ensure an equitable transition that avoids protectionism and supports climate-resilient development in the Global South.

The report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) analyzes the landscape of bilateral and multilateral agreements between African states and global powers to secure critical minerals essential for the green energy and digital transitions. It examines the strategies of twelve key actors—including China, Russia, the EU, and the US—highlighting a trend toward resource diplomacy driven by national security concerns and the need to diversify supply chains away from dominant suppliers.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines the critical role of recycled copper, particularly from end-of-life products, in meeting the surging demand driven by the clean energy transition. It highlights that while copper is indispensable for renewable energy and electric vehicles, mining faces significant constraints, making the scaling of circular supply chains essential for sustainability and supply security.

This research paper by Kholofelo Kugler and Tani Washington analyzes the impact of the Trump administration's 2025 tariff policies on African nations. It details the structure of the new tariffs, the specific vulnerabilities of countries like Lesotho and Madagascar, the potential advantages for Egypt and Kenya, and the precarious future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

This report details the history and evolution of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), from its origins at the 2002 UN World Summit on Sustainable Development to its current status as a global forum of over 80 member countries focused on mining governance and sustainable development.

This fact sheet details the history and evolution of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals for Sustainable Development (IGF), from its origins at the 2002 UN World Summit on Sustainable Development to its current status as a global policy forum with over 80 member nations.

This fact sheet from Sustainable Energy for All outlines various global platforms, compacts, and coalitions designed to accelerate the energy transition and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7).

This report examines the potential for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) to expand its role in the global supply of critical minerals required for digital technology and low-carbon energy, emphasizing the need for formalization to mitigate environmental damage and support local livelihoods.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines India's capacity to manufacture and recycle renewable energy technologies. It highlights a heavy reliance on Chinese imports for solar PV components, a strong but underutilised domestic wind turbine industry, and the critical need to develop recycling infrastructure for minerals and components to secure future supply chains.

This briefing examines the landscape of global responsible mining standards, highlighting their role in mitigating environmental and social risks during the energy transition. It details the categorization of standards, the move toward harmonization via the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI), and provides recommendations for governments to integrate these voluntary frameworks into national regulations to enhance transparency and accountability.

A briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlining the expected agenda for the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, focusing on post-expansion integration, trade in local currencies, global governance coordination, and climate transition strategies.

This case study examines how Chile, Indonesia, and South Africa are decarbonizing their mining sectors to align with the Paris Agreement while continuing to supply critical minerals for the global energy transition.

This research paper examines the efforts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia to establish a regional battery industry by leveraging their copper and cobalt resources. It analyzes the geopolitical competition between the USA, China, and the EU for critical minerals, the historical shift from nationalized to privatized mining, and the governance challenges hindering local value addition.

This research paper examines Africa's potential to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing sector by leveraging its mineral resources and solar irradiance. It analyzes the barriers to entry, such as China's market dominance and high capital requirements, and proposes a regionalized strategy to overcome these challenges.

This policy brief examines China's dominant role in Africa's critical minerals sector, highlighting the tension between increased investment and the lack of local value addition. It argues that while China's infrastructure-led approach and state support provide a competitive edge, African nations must shift from exporting raw materials to developing domestic processing and refining capabilities to avoid the 'resource curse' and benefit from the global energy transition.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines whether deep sea mining is necessary for the clean energy transition. It concludes that deep sea mining is unlikely to alleviate short-term mineral supply crunches because the technology for commercial extraction and processing is not yet available, and the steepest growth in mineral demand is expected before 2035. The document highlights that there is no physical scarcity of critical minerals in the earth's crust, but rather supply risks driven by lack of investment, recycling, and geopolitical concentration of processing in China. It suggests that sustainable land mining, supply diversification, recycling, and material substitution are more viable alternatives to deep sea mining, which carries significant unknown environmental risks.