The roundtable scheduled for July 12th in Geneva, Switzerland, is a collaboration between UNEP, the UN Trade and Development and Forum on Trade, Environment, and SDGs (TESS). The goal is to address issues at the intersection of trade in critical minerals, climate action, and sustainable development. The event will focus on exploring potential approaches and pathways for enhancing international cooperation in these areas.
Experts from international organizations, think tanks, governments, and stakeholder organizations will come together to discuss the role of critical minerals in climate action, the implications for trade, and the opportunities and risks from the perspective of developing countries. Additionally, they will examine trade-related initiatives and policy developments on critical materials and how they impact global supply chains and the economic diversification of developing nations.
Sustainability challenges associated with the production, processing, and supply of critical materials will also be reviewed, with an emphasis on the role of trade and circularity in promoting sustainable and equitable supply chains. The roundtable will further explore cooperative approaches to trade in critical minerals and discuss potential international cooperation initiatives for sustainable and pro-development supply chains.
Overall, the event aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to promote multilateral cooperation, including initiatives like the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. By bringing together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders, the roundtable hopes to drive progress in addressing the complex challenges at the intersection of trade, climate action, and sustainable development.