The future depends on transition minerals. Extreme weather and other climate-driven disruptions are already putting mineral supply chains and local communities at risk

Too many of the world’s transition minerals come from too few places, unusually prone to floods, droughts and other disruptions linked to climate change. Without concerted action, a vicious cycle of intensifying shocks, shrinking investment and diminishing extraction looms.

Local communities who’ve done the least to cause the climate crisis stand to pay the biggest price. Extreme weather events are disruptive enough to these communities on their own. But it’s the repercussions of the events, the cumulative risks, that ought to concern non-profits and their donors most. Extreme temperatures increase the likelihood of conflict. Droughts aggravate competition over access to water. And the list goes on.

TMP is working on a three-year initiative, funded by the Hewlett Foundation and the Quadrature Climate Foundation, to help decision-makers and communities across supply chains prepare.

TMP wasn’t always focused on critical minerals. Social license, not supply chains, drove some of our earliest work on mining. We quickly discovered that many companies, particularly the majors, are more advanced in understanding the needs of communities than they often get credit for. But even as extreme weather events knocked assets offline, near-term climate change and its repercussions were being routinely overlooked.

For as long as transition minerals supply chains are so concentrated – just one mine in China produces more than half of the world’s rare earth elements, for example – climate change and its repercussions will remain an outsize threat to global efforts to decarbonize. That’s why TMP continues to make transition minerals a core focus.

TMP is always looking for partners to join us in this important work. To find out more, get in touch with our team.