United Nations
Critical minerals, policy, and the energy transition
Facilitating market development across the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) was established in 1945 to maintain international peace and cooperation between nations. Currently composed of 193 member states, the UN seeks to address global issues that individual countries cannot solve alone. One such issue is the worldwide transition to renewable and sustainable forms of energy. As countries shift away from fossil fuels to power sources like solar, wind, and hydropower, there is an increasing demand for critical minerals needed to build technologies integral to the energy transition, such as batteries to store renewable power, electric vehicles, and equipment for renewable power generation including solar panels, wind turbines, and transmission infrastructure. These critical minerals include lithium for batteries, cobalt for electric vehicles, and rare earth elements used in electronics and turbines. While energy transitions present immense economic and environmental opportunities, securing reliable access to critical mineral supplies risks exacerbating geopolitical tensions if not approached multilaterally. The UN provides a forum for open discussion between its members as they work to ensure equitable access to these resources through cooperation towards a low-carbon future.
North America UN members
Central America and the Caribbean UN members
Europe UN members
Africa UN members
Asia-Pacific UN members
Meet the Critical Minerals team
Trusted advice from a dedicated team of experts.
Henk de Hoop
Chief Executive Officer
Beresford Clarke
Managing Director: Technical & Research
Jamie Underwood
Principal Consultant
Ismet Soyocak
ESG & Critical Minerals Lead
Rj Coetzee
Senior Market Analyst: Battery Materials and Technologies
How can we help you?
SFA (Oxford) provides bespoke, independent intelligence on the strategic metal markets, specifically tailored to your needs. To find out more about what we can offer you, please contact us.