Lithium is a key mineral for the transition
Avoiding old geopolitical paradigms for new energy challenges
The US needs critical minerals for the energy transition, but its strategy for securing supplies should not mirror its approach to fossil fuels
I joined a workshop in early April on the geopolitics of the energy transition, hosted by nonprofit the Stanley Center for Peace and Security and climate change thinktank E3G. Although the workshop touched on a wide range of challenges, those related to critical raw minerals (CRM) stood out. Washington has clearly woken up to the need to secure CRM, but it risks overlaying old frameworks onto new challenges. Specifically, it risks overplaying great power rivalry and treating CRM like fossil fuels. At stake is the pace and extent of the energy transition, and the commercial opportunities it should yield. For context, the workshop laid out a few key points. First, that the transition to clean
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
