The Future of Critical Minerals for Renewable Energy

As mineral demand for renewable energy increases rapidly, Forum for the Future is working with the critical minerals system to champion principles of just transition. Our goal is to ensure that minerals exploration, processing, manufacturing, decommissioning and recycling happens in a way that it champions principles of just transition – fairness, people-centric, equity, environmental safety – which are crucial to making it a resilient, thriving sector of the future. Through research, stakeholder dialogues, and participatory workshops with industry leaders, decision makers, experts and civil society, we aim to drive collective action.

Forum is working specifically on critical minerals needed for renewable energy transition – or “transition” minerals. Our initial work is focussed in India, as we understand what is needed regionally and internationally to drive a deep and urgent transition to renewable energy regionally and internationally.

The Challenge

To transition from an energy system that served us well in the last century to one that is fit for purpose in the 21st century, we must rapidly shift to renewable energy, powered by essential minerals like lithium, copper, and cobalt. However, soaring demand for these minerals is overwhelming supply chains, causing price volatility and increasing geopolitical tensions.

In the rush to secure these resources, nations and industries risk making short-sighted decisions that prioritises immediate gains over long-term sustainability. This approach risks a shallow transition, inequity and further increasing vulnerabilities – impacting long-term resilience of the sector.

Current governance structures and business practices often fail to address these broader issues, focusing only on short-term needs. To ensure a deep and urgent transition, countries must adopt a unified strategy that balances the demand for transition minerals with environmental stewardship and social equity.

Our approach

Forum for the Future is committed to transforming transition minerals system by shifting the focus from securing supply chain – towards a resilient, thriving sector championing principles of just transition. Through our collaborative approach, we are engaging industry leaders, decision makers, experts, philanthropies and civil society organizations (CSOs) to build a discourse on a more equitable, just, and regenerative approach to mineral development—one that addresses immediate needs while ensuring long-term sustainability and equity.

In 2024-25, we are focussing on engaging stakeholders in India. Read more about our approach in this blog.

A clean, equitable energy future and the role of critical minerals

Most existing frameworks focus on responsible mining, labour practices, and human rights but often through a limited lens of minimising harm or adhering to a do no harm approach. What’s missing is a high-ambition and vision that moves beyond risk mitigation to actively enable regenerative outcomes for people and the planet.

Our new report titled, Critical Minerals, India and the Just Transition, aims to fills that gap.

Find out more

Reach out to our team at [email protected] if you’re interested in getting involved or would like to find out more about the project.

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