6th Meeting of the Global Council | COP30, Just Transition & Traceability

24 April 2025

This event summary reflects the authors' understanding of key points made during the discussions. It does not necessarily represent the view of the Paris Peace Forum. The summary may be subject to further revision.

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I. Current and Future Issues in the Mineral Sector

Geopolitical Realignments

The meeting opened with an open discussion on current geopolitical trends. The return of the

Trump administration in the United States has dramatically disrupted the global minerals landscape, marked by uncertainty and the breakdown of traditional alliances. The first wave of executive orders heavily focused on accelerating domestic mining and securing a supply of raw materials from emerging economies. To support this, the administration has rolled out a series of protectionist trade policies: the re-imposition of national security-based safeguard measures on steel and aluminum, new tariffs on copper and processed “critical minerals” and the removal of tariff preferences on African countries. These evolutions bring about a climate of uncertainty.

The US is no longer pursuing international collaboration strategies but is instead taking unilateral steps to secure its own mineral supply chains. These include controversial efforts to exert influence over Greenland and Canada, as well as an agreement with Ukraine, where negotiations reflected a heavily one-sided approach. A similar approach appears to be underway with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where a Critical Raw Materials Agreement is currently being negotiated following a visit by US Special Envoy Massad Boulos.

Trump’s budgetary cuts on international cooperation have raised concerns over US’s commitment to the Lobito Corrido - a project largely funded by the US intended to improve regional connectivity and mineral transport across Angola, Zambia, and the DRC. While the EU appears to remain fully committed, the role of the US has become more uncertain, though recent diplomatic statements suggest a possible continuation of its engagement.

In response to US restrictions, China imposed targeted export bans targeting five key minerals, including tungsten and indium. These export restrictions are the latest of a consistent effort of China to leverage its dominant position since 2023. At the same time, China is expending its engagement across Central and South Asia, positioning itself as a reliable and law-abiding economic partner committed to climate mitigation goals.

In the meantime, the European Union is recalibrating its minerals’ strategy to go beyond purely implementing the Green Deal, toward an agenda that emphasizes competitiveness, reindustrialization, and economic security. Driven by the US’s unreliability, the EU is seeking greater autonomy. The first set of projects under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act has been approved, all located within the EU, though a second wave in third countries is forthcoming. At the same time, the EU continues expanding its strategic partnerships, reaffirming its commitments to mutually beneficial partnerships as well as its support to processing and refining activities in producing countries. This has been reaffirmed by President of the European Commission von der Leyen in Davos, and is reflected in initiatives such as the Clean, Trade and Investment Partnership, announced during the EU-South Africa Summit, as well as discussions during the EU-Central Asia Summit. Finally, the EU has also reviewed its partnership with Rwanda and imposed sanctions to the country, while expanding engagement with the DRC.   

Additionally, the recent visit of President Zelensky to South Africa reflects a broader a strategic effort to forge alternative mineral alliances beyond Europe and the US, especially given recent tensions between South Africa and the US. All global powers are now racing to secure bilateral trade channels in response to growing unpredictability in global trade.

These geopolitical shifts have also raised concerns about a growing wave of deregulation, sparked by the new US administration and spreading across Europe and South America, fueled by the belief that loosening environmental and social safeguards will enhance supply and attract investments. The US has announced it would no longer apply OECD anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or comply with EU Due Diligence rules (i.e., CSRD and CS3D). These announcements send worrying signals to countries trying to implement responsible governance practices. Such deregulation threatens the long-term viability of mining projects and is likely to deter capital, as financial institutions are increasingly reluctant to fund poorly regulated operations.

Finally, the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement raises questions about the use of these minerals. While it remains clear that demand for minerals will continue to rise, the US focus is shifting towards defense and technologies rather than renewable energy. While the US may deprioritize the energy transition, it is worth noting that other actors continue to maintain a strong emphasis on renewable energy and climate goals.

COP30 Agenda

In its 2024 interim report, the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals called for stronger integration of climate and minerals multilateral strategies, recalling that “the role of minerals in the energy transition is critical, yet often overlooked in climate discussions”. The upcoming Conference of the Paris of the UNFCCC (COP30), to be held in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025, offers a key opportunity to advance this agenda.

Hosted by Brazil, COP30 is being designed not only as a venue for formal governmental negotiations but also as a platform for action. A central feature of the Conference will be the “Action Agenda”, which aim at mobilizing non-state actors, including the private sector, financial actors, and civil society, to address critical climate challenges. To this end, the Presidency has implemented a new dynamic of governance, including the creation of “Special Envoys”, tasked with leading specific processes or thematic priorities.This will operate in parallel to the UNFCCC negotiation track, offering a space to address politically sensitive topics, with priorities including phasing out fossil fuels, just transition, climate justice and deforestation. While minerals are not expressively part of the agenda yet, ongoing preparatory work and stakeholder engagement could influence defined priorities.

A key milestone ahead of COP30 will be the submission of updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by September. These revised commitments are central to the climate agenda, representing each country’s climate ambitions for the next decade. It was noted that in many cases, current energy trends reflect energy addition rather than a true energy transition, with new sources being added rather than replacing fossil fuels. This underscores the urgency to encourage and advocate for governments to submit bold and forward-looking NDCs. A positive example is China’s recently announced NDC 3.0 plans, which will cover its entire economy and all greenhouse gas emissions.

The Brazilian Presidency is placing particular emphasis on the need to develop concrete pathways for phasing out fossil fuels, addressing both production and consumption patterns. It was stressed that countries must identify which economic sectors, such as transport and heavy industry, can deliver real transformation. This includes looking at solutions like electrification, clean mobility, and energy efficiency. The Chair is currently framing a roadmap from Dubai to Belem to guide this process.  

COP 30 is also expected to become a platform for navigating growing geopolitical tensions, particularly between blocs such as BRICS+ and the G7. With countries increasingly pursuing divergent climate and development priorities, COP30 will attempt to foster open dialogue and political engagement.

Next steps regarding COP30 engagement:

• Brazil will host a series of preparatory meeting throughout 2025, with potential opportunity for the Council to convene preparatory sessions focused on minerals.

• While important moments will occur during COP30 negotiations, the preparatory phase from May to October is crucial. Stakeholders are encouraged to seize the opportunity to share documents and positions to shape the agenda, including on minerals and metals. Several meetings are already organized, and more stakeholder meetings can be organized before or during COP30, upon request. Among other preparatory meetings, closed-door meetings under Chatham House rules will be held during the London Climate Week in June which will provide opportunities for stakeholders to shape the agenda of COP30.

• The Secretariat of the Global Council is also supporting the work of a global coalition of stakeholders to present a mineral-focused text to climate negotiators for inclusion in COP30 discussions (See this meeting’s Briefing Package for more information).  

Just Transition and Labor Rights

Participants raised concerns over the social consequences of energy transition policies, particularly within the mining industry, and the urgent need to ensure a Just Transition.

It was emphasized that the number of jobs currently created by the energy transition sector is not sufficient to offset the associated job losses – particularly across the coal mining sector. Data from the Global Energy Monitor suggests that nearly half a million workers operate coal mines that may reach their end of operation before 2035. By 2050, nearly 1 million coal mine jobs will no longer exist at operating mines given the coal industry’s foreseeable closures, potentially laying off over one-third of the existing workforce. This trajectory heightens the risk of stranded workers, ghost towns, and rising social unrest, as already witnessed in Colombia, India, and South Africa.

While climate action is essential, without safeguards, climate commitments could further exacerbate this trend. Discussions stressed that although employment in the renewable energy sector now exceeds 50% of total energy employment, it is still unclear how sustainable and stable these new jobs are.

In this context, a Just Transition must be central to energy shifts. Originally developed by trade unions to protect workers affected by environmental policy shifts, the concept of Just Transition has been diluted or misapplied, often excluding those most at risk. A meaningful Just Transition should adapt a holistic approach that includes economic diversification, support for workers (capacity building, upskilling and reskilling), and inclusive processes that address equity impacts on marginalized groups. A Just Transition should maximize the social and economic opportunities of climate action, while minimizing and managing challenges through effective social dialogues across impacted groups and upholding fundamental labor rights. 

Despite mining companies increasingly acknowledging the importance of a Just Transition, many still fall short of meeting expectations. Findings from the World Benchmarking Alliance reveal that only 23% of high-emitting companies have made public commitments to reskill or upskill workers displaced by the low-carbon transition. 

Moreover, the data shows that affected workers and communities are still too often excluded from planning and decision-making processes, weakening trust and undermining equitable outcomes. Some positive efforts were acknowledged, including capacity-building programs enabling workers and communities to engage with policymakers and companies.

Looking ahead, it was suggested that upcoming international processes, including COP30 in Brazil, must treat the just transition as a central pillar of climate action.

II. Mineral Data and New Technologies

To advance the implementation of the Recommendation 3 of the Global Council, aiming at “the creation of an interoperable mineral data repository to consolidate existing information on mineral endowments, regulations, trade flows, and Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) impacts along the value chain”, the Secretariat invited two organizations to present their use of new technologies, such as AI tools and satellite imagery, to monitor the environmental and social impacts of mining operations.

The Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE)

The Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE), presented its interactive map – a visual tool which compiles data on over 12,000 existing mining sites worldwide relevant to the energy transition, including China, India, Africa, and South America. Supported by satellite imagery and AI systems, the map helps visualize changes over time, assess environmental impacts, and track climate mitigation efforts. The system also draws from nearly two decades of IPE’s work on water, air, and soil data, and now tracks violations and emissions from over 20 million companies.

This transparency platform, featuring real-time pollutant data reported directly by companies, has contributed to a more than 50% reduction in air pollution levels in China over the past decade. IPE is also working on tools for measuring and disclosing greenhouse gas emissions, including through digital calculators for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Additionally, IPE has developed an AI-powered compliance agent to assist in understanding companies’ environmental performance and violations. The platform uses domestic large language models (LLMs) like DeepSeek and Alibaba due to restrictions on global tools such as ChatGPT in China. While these AI agents are integrated into the mapping platform and can flag known sites, their ability to analyze prospective mining projects remains limited. IPE aims to collaborate with partners to further improve these tools, enhancing its capacity to provide accurate insights on potential new mining risks and sites.

Companies are incentivized to disclose their environmental violations due to both regulatory requirements as well as public and market pressure. On one hand, IPE’s work has been supported by Chinese milestone legislation requiring mandatory disclosure of corporate environmental information for more than 90 000 companies. On the other hand, IPE’s platform consolidates this information into a compliance database containing more than 3 million violation records. These records are regularly updated - hourly in some regions - enabling investors, regulators, and supply chain actors to monitor and compare performance. When a violation is detected, the system automatically notifies downstream buyers, encouraging companies, especially multinationals, to pressure suppliers to address issues quickly to maintain commercial relationships and ESG ratings. By making environmental performance data publicly accessible and ensuring supply chain accountability, companies are motivated to improve their practices to avoid reputational damage and potential loss of business.

Rosa.io

Rosa.io is complementary an open-source platform designed to enhance transparency across mineral value chains by mapping ESG impacts. Leveraging satellite imagery and multiple public datasets, such as internationally protected areas, the tool tracks key environmental indicators such as biodiversity loss, deforestation, water quality, and carbon emissions.

Currently mapping over 44,000 mine locations worldwide, Rosa.io allows users to zoom in on individual sites and assess various risk dimensions. The platform integrates information on protected areas, historical deforestation trends, and water sediments to support informed decision-making. The team is also working to incorporate social data into the platform - for example, measuring the proximity of communities to healthcare centers or assessing risks based on the location of villages relative to mining operations. However, they emphasize that on-site assessments remain essential for a full understanding.

Addressing environmental impacts of the mining industry, such as biodiversity loss, is crucial. Research shows that mining activities threatens a similar number of species as climate change – yet very little overlap exists between species threatened by both. This shows the significant potential of cleaner mining for biodiversity preservation. Although still a young platform, Rosa.io can support downstream players meet regulations like the EU’s Battery Regulation by making raw-material ESG risks more visible. 

The meeting also highlighted several other existing datasets, and the importance of ensuring integration and interoperability among them. Notable example include the International Crisis Group’s E-EARTH database, Environmental Justice Atlas (EJAtlas) and the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) trackers. Over a decade ago, IGF Mining developed a conflict minerals map and study, which is now being updated to tackle more broadly minerals and metals, including aggregating data regarding reserves, production, downstream actors’ information, and transportation and infrastructure networks. Additionally, the European Commission’s Joint Research Center has developed a similar visualization tool, which brings together all the industrial facilities that fall under EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) or Industrial Emission rules, including mining, processing, refining, and recycling sites.

III. Financing Responsible Mineral Value Chains: Key Take-Aways from the Special Advisor Meeting

On the 20 March 2025, the Secretariat of the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals convened a Working Group meeting to address the major investment challenges faced by the mining sector, and the potential creation of a public-private investment mechanism to mobilize financing. During this meeting, Special Advisors emphasized the lack of profitability of the sector as a major barrier and stressed insufficient coordination among national funding mechanisms. They emphasized the importance of mapping out key challenges by commodity and across value chain stages to identify the most effective solutions (i.e., loans, guarantees, subsidies, etc.).

A significant concern raised was the chronic underfunding of exploration and prospection activities which, despite being highly risky, are essential to future supply. It was highlighted that this early stage of the value chain, often overlooked, demanded greater strategic attention. Ongoing discussions within the G7, especially following recent PDAC meetings, are proposing to explore financial mechanisms that could better support early-stage exploration. IGF Mining is also set to address this issue during its upcoming Annual General Assembly, in November 2025.

IV. Next steps

• The next Global Council Meeting, originally scheduled to take place alongside the International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, has been cancelled.

• The Global Council will reconvene on 11 September 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM CET.  

• The Paris Peace Forum will be held on 29 and 30 October and will feature an in-person meeting of the Global Council.