Critical Minerals and Climate Security: Diversifying International Supply Chains and Upscaling Mineral Recycling

Summary

The global transition to a green economy is accelerating alongside the arrival of climate change impacts. Lucrative, leading market positions throughout climate goods supply chains have become well established while other positions in the supply chain remain sparsely competitive.  At the same time, the world’s two most influential nations – the United States and China – have engaged in trade war and become less friendly, despite their intertwined economic relationship and critical roles in mitigating climate change. Taking these trends into account, the United States should prepare a long-term strategy that allows it to responsibly adapt to new climate realities quickly and with resilience to a wide range of potential outcomes in international relationships.

Authorship

This policy brief was prepared by Anson Justi (ajusti@ucdavis.edu). He acknowledges the contributions of David Bunn.