Securing the supply of clean energy metals to achieve carbon reduction: A review

Liuguo Shao, Hua Zhang, Ting Zhang, Saisha Cao, & Tingting Lan. (2023). “Securing the supply of clean energy metals to achieve carbon reduction: A review.” Carbon Footprints 2(3), 16. https://doi.org/10.20517/cf.2023.33

Abstract

Climate change is a major threat to the world. The cause for this global challenge is directly linked to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In order to mitigate climate change, major policies such as reducing GHG emissions are required. Many countries have proposed carbon emission reduction targets at the national strategic level. A crucial issue in achieving the target is low-carbon energy transition, which requires a large amount of clean energy metals as supporting materials. This paper summarizes the latest research results of existing literature on the supply of clean energy metals in achieving the goal of carbon reduction, including the definitions, demand changes, supply capacity assessment, supply risk evolution, supply guarantee and policy system, etc. We point out that further research should be conducted in the following three directions in the future: firstly, strengthen research on the impact of trade and geopolitics on the supply of clean energy metals; secondly, further evaluate the effectiveness of minerals security policies in various countries; finally, broaden the analysis of the clean energy metals supply to encompass the entire industrial chain perspective.