Forum opening: Spotlight on critical minerals

May 2, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Description

This session will highlight the growing importance of critical and energy transition minerals to policymakers and the implications of this development for strengthening responsible mineral supply chains. With much ongoing debate in policymaking circles on this topic, high-level participants in the session may speak to somewhat different priorities. High-level interventions will be sought from mineral-consuming countries and jurisdictions that have recently established critical minerals policies and strategies, emerging critical minerals powerhouses like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and relevant international organisations. Through the organisation of the session the OECD will seek to elevate several dimensions of the issue that will influence the responsible trade in minerals. These include the ways in which critical minerals policy can leverage the mutually reinforcing link between security of supply and responsible engagement of high-risk areas (including artisanal and small-scale mining), as well as the burgeoning coordination between different countries on critical minerals policy. These focus areas are intended to promote interest in critical minerals as an impetus for expanding the use of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance as the global benchmark and avoid responsible sourcing being deprioritised amid the scramble to secure control of these resources.