Sustainable future needs critical minerals, but even more, it needs global cooperation

The world is shifting towards a clean energy transition by minimising the use of fossil fuels. However, minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths have become the new lifeline of the green economy. Because each of these minerals is scarce, the countries that possess them enjoy significant power, which is often deeply political. Solar panels require silver, whereas wind turbines depend on rare earth magnets. Similarly, batteries need lithium and cobalt. The dream of a decarbonised future is impossible without these critical minerals. As…