International Critical Minerals and Materials Engagements

As countries race to meet their net-zero goals, the rapid shift to clean energy technologies is expected to drive a significant increase in demand for certain minerals and materials, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, copper, aluminum, and rare earth elements. This increased demand has already fueled the development of new mines, processing facilities and refineries. While critical mineral and material supply chains must grow rapidly to deploy technologies necessary to meet global climate goals, and while the impact of mineral and material extraction will never be zero, this growth must not be at the expense of the environment, human health, human and labor rights or Tribes and indigenous peoples. It is imperative that mining, processing, and recycling facilities be developed in ways that protect people and the environment, promote good governance, create good jobs, and provide economic benefits to local workers and communities. 

Responsible Critical Mineral Supply Chains 

Executive Order 14017  on America’s supply chains directed a whole-of-government approach to assessing vulnerabilities in, and strengthening the resilience of, critical supply chains, including those for critical minerals. 

The Executive Order’s 100- day review report  directed Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy (DOE) to co-lead the Federal government to work with stakeholders across the private sector, labor, and nongovernmental organizations to develop responsibly produced content standards for strategic and critical material-intensive industries, including automotive and aerospace products, fuel production, power generation and distribution, electrical and electronic products. The intended outcome is to integrate responsibly produced content standards into federal incentives and procurement processes, sending important demand signals to domestic and international supply chains and markets.

As part of this effort, EPA and DOE are teaming with other agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of State, to support the implementation of strong environmental, social, governance standards internationally.  This work includes supporting United States’ engagement in international consensus-based standardization work related to the extraction, processing, and tracing of critical materials, including through the International Organization for Standardization and other bi-lateral and multi-lateral fora.

EPA Work in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 

EPA’s Office of International Affairs led an interagency team for the U.S. government’s participation in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Workshop Agreement on Critical Mineral Supply Chains (IWA 45).  IWA 45 led a series of international workshops resulting in an ISO report developed by a group of stakeholders including governments, standard organizations, civil society organizations, and industry. The IWA 45 final report  supports the understanding of the range of existing sustainability frameworks available for critical minerals supply chains, to assist in improving an organization’ sustainability outcomes. 

The final report also includes principles and recommendations that will inform the scope and criteria of future ISO processes developing sustainability standards for critical mineral supply chains, which could be adopted as the basis of national policies and regulations in many countries. The report also includes environment, social, and governance (ESG) criteria to consider in critical mineral supply chain standards and an in-depth comparative analysis of existing sustainability frameworks against these criteria. The IWA 45 report and accompanying analysis of ESG frameworks and standards can be used as a reference in future national and international critical mineral ESG policy efforts.

United Nations (UN)

EPA has provided technical input to several UN Critical Mineral and Material Initiatives: 

• The Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals seeks to build trust between governments, local communities and industry, by addressing issues relating to equity, transparency, investment, sustainability and human rights. In September 2024, the Panel released its’ first report, Resourcing the Energy Transition: Principles to guide critical energy transition minerals towards equity and Justice.
• EPA participated as part of the U.S. delegation that negotiated to the 6th UN Environment Assembly and helped negotiate the Resolution on Environmental Aspects of Minerals and Metals.

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  Contacts

  For additional information on EPA's International Trade efforts, contact:
  Brianna Besch
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2660R)
  1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
  Washington, DC 20460
  E-mail: besch.brianna@epa.gov
  (202) 564-6600