Nature Positive Role of the Mining and Metals Sector

As a result of the projected critical mineral demand requirements and concentration of resources, countries across the world have rolled out substantial updates to international cooperation mechanisms and strategic plans to support critical mineral supply chain security and resilience, promote innovation and encourage sustainable and responsible practices.47 According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nearly 200 policies and regulations now affect critical mineral supply, half of which were enacted in just the past few years.48 Indeed, the Group of Seven (G7) countries adopted a Five-Point Plan for Critical Minerals Security and pledged $13 billion in support in April 2023, and the Group of Twenty (G20) have emphasized the need for diversified, sustainable and responsible supply chains for the energy transition. The combination of recent geopolitical turbulence and China’s domination of global critical raw material supply and production is encouraging the development of partnerships such as the Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance, launched by Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15).49 Overall, critical minerals are increasingly shifting to a state-influenced business, where producer nations are looking to move down value chains and buyer nations are eager to secure supply while supporting the development of local industries.50 This dynamic is accompanied by rapidly accelerating technological change, which is driving improved efficiency, reduced emissions and mitigating safety risks in the mining and metals sector. In addition, increased permitting timelines have resulted in companies redirecting resources towards re-mining and other innovations, such as improving leaching or managing lower-grade ores.51 Like other sectors, the mining and metals sector and nature are intrinsically interlinked. The sector depends on environmental assets and ecosystem services to function and grow, such as the provision of metal, mineral, energy and cultivated biological resources, freshwater supply, soil and sediment retention, flood protection and global climate regulation. The mining and metals sector and nature are intrinsically interlinked. The sector depends on environmental assets and ecosystem services to function and grow.Simplified value chain of the mining and metals sector FIGURE 5 End-product manufacturing Manufacturing of end products using fabricated or semi- fabricated products Use phase and end-of-life End customer use of products in industries such as construction, automotive, electronics and renewable energy; end-of-life processing, including final recycling, disposal and waste management RecyclingRe-mining wasteUpstreamMidstream (direct operations) Downstream Inorganic and organic feedstock and raw material supply – including fossil fuels, chemicals and forest products (e.g. rubber) Energy and water supply Machinery and transport equipment supplyMining operations Extraction of raw metals and minerals, including exploration, mine development, operations, closure and rehabilitation phasesProcessing Processing and smelting of raw materials into fabricated or semi- fabricated products Transport and distribution Nature Positive: Role of the Mining and Metals Sector 15