Understanding the United Nations’ New Principles for Resourcing the Energy Transition

At the 28th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP 28), governments agreed to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030. A successful transition to renewable, low-carbon energy will need significantly more minerals like copper, lithium, and nickel. But how can we ensure that the necessary mining will be done with concern and protection for people and the planet? New guiding principles and recommendations from the UN are designed to drive a fair and just energy transition.

How Were the Principles Developed?

The principles were created by a panel appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in April 2024. The panel was tasked to develop a set of voluntary principles to address challenges often linked to mining—such as social conflict and environmental degradation—and ensure a just, equitable, and successful energy transition. The panel’s launch followed plans announced by Guterres at COP 28 in 2023.

“A world powered by renewables is a world hungry for critical minerals. For developing countries, critical minerals are a critical opportunity to create jobs, diversify economies, and dramatically boost revenues. But only if they are managed properly. The race to net zero cannot trample over the poor. The renewables revolution is happening—but we must guide it towards justice,” said Guterres in launching the panel.

Who Participated?

The panel was co-chaired by Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa and Director-General for Energy Ditte Juul Jørgensen of the European Commission. The 40 panellists included representatives from national governments and non-state actors with expertise and experience working on the issues, including the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Secretariat, which is hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

Over 4 months, the panel met 13 times virtually and twice physically in Copenhagen and Nairobi. The panel also considered 100 submissions from governments, organizations, businesses, financial institutions, and individuals.

What Are the Outcomes?

The panel formulated and agreed on seven voluntary guiding principles to be applied to the entire value chain and life cycle of critical energy transition minerals. In addition, it proposes actionable recommendations to support the implementation of the principles. The panel advises that these interconnected principles should all carry equal weight and be collectively advanced.

The Guiding Principles

1. Human rights must be at the core of all mineral value chains.
2. The integrity of the planet, its environment, and its biodiversity must be safeguarded.
3. Justice and equity must underpin mineral value chains.
4. Development must be fostered through benefit sharing, value addition, and economic diversification.
5. Investments, finance, and trade must be responsible and fair.
6. Transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures are necessary to ensure good governance.
7. Multilateral and international cooperation must underpin global action and promote peace and security.

Recommendations to Support the Principles

The panel made several actionable recommendations that leverage the UN’s ability to create key bodies and processes to embed and maintain the principles. These recommendations include establishing a High-Level Expert Advisory Group housed in the UN to accelerate greater benefit-sharing, value addition, and economic diversification in critical energy transition mineral value chains, as well as responsible and fair trade, investment, finance, and taxation.

Other recommendations call for initiatives to

• develop a global traceability, transparency, and accountability framework along the entire mineral value chain—from mining to recycling;  
• address mining legacy issues and strengthen financial assurance mechanisms for mine closure and rehabilitation;
• empower artisanal and small-scale miners to practice support responsible mining; and
• establish equitable targets and timelines to implement material efficiency and circularity approaches along the entire mine life cycle of critical energy transition minerals.

What’s Next?

The panel and its outcomes are unique as a UN project and should motivate the UN to use its position as a global convenor to support the guiding principles for a just and equitable energy transition. At the same time, the panel is clear that actions should aim to build on the existing national, intergovernmental, civil society, and industry organizations seeking similar goals.

The Secretary General has committed to harnessing the UN system to support implementation and has asked the co-chairs and panel to consult and share the report with member states and other stakeholders ahead of COP29 later this year.

As the leading intergovernmental body focused on mining policy, the IGF is well-placed to support the UN principles. The IGF has an impactful track record of working to strengthen mining governance for the betterment of communities, economies, and the environment in its 85 member countries, including most of the world’s major mining jurisdictions. Policy-makers from these nations will convene with global non-state actors at the IGF’s upcoming 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM), with a focus on Redefining Mining: Balancing the Need for Minerals with Protecting People and the Planet, this November at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva.

As the IGF’s host institution, IISD supports the Secretariat with its expertise in finance, investment, taxation, and trade to support fairer and more responsible critical mineral value chains for a just energy transition.

The IGF’s Work on Critical Minerals Governance

As a member-driven organization, the IGF focuses on pressing issues stemming from the rising demand for critical minerals in the energy transition. Evolving mining policy concerns are reflected in the IGF’s Mining Policy Framework, updated and ratified by members in 2023, which outlines international good practices throughout the mining life cycle and details the Secretariat’s mandate to work on key policy areas.

IGF Resources and Upcoming Events Aligned with the UN’s Principles

• Event | The IGF’s 20th Annual General Meeting, Redefining Mining: Balancing the Need for Minerals with Protecting People and the Planet, November 18­–20, 2024, UN Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
• Webinar | What Makes Minerals and Metals ‘Critical’? Financial benefits and other key considerations for governments, October 9, 2024
• Report | What Makes Minerals and Metals ‘Critical’? A practical guide for governments on building resilient supply chains 
• Report | Financial Benefit-Sharing Issues for Critical Minerals: Challenges and opportunities for producing countries 

Greg Radford served on the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and is the Director of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), hosted by IISD.