The transition to a low-carbon economy, crucial for combating climate change and achieving sustainable development, relies on the availability and sustainable management of critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies like wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles. With the rising demand for these minerals, it is vital to address challenges related to supply, environmental impact, and social implications. 

This roundtable brought together industry leaders to discuss strategies for ensuring a responsible and sustainable supply chain while minimizing negative impacts and addressing future challenges.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Rafaela Guedes, Senior Fellow at CEBRI and Member of a Panel of Experts on Energy Transition at the Institute for Climate and Society (iCS)

Keynote Speaker

• Ligia Noronha, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Christophe McGlade, Head of the Energy Supply Unit at the International Energy Agency (IEA)

Panel 1 | Critical minerals: the path to address demand

• Geopolitical challenges: what is at stake? - Izabella Teixeira, Trusteee Emitrus at CEBRI and Former Minister of Environment (2010-2016)
• Technological innovations: what is the current state of the art? - André Clark, Senior VP of Latin America at Siemens Energy
• What circular economy principles and green tech can do for the mining industry? - Christophe McGlade, Head of the Energy Supply Unit at the International Energy Agency (IEA)
• Major challenges faced by industry players - Emily Olson, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at Vale Base Metals

Painel 2 | How to ensure sustainable supply chain development and future trends

• What does it take to ensure a sustainable supply chain? - Tom Moerenhout, Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy and Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University
• Best practices and case studies - Daniel Abdo, Director of Business Development at Sigma Lithium, & Bruno Pelli, Global Mining Technical Services Director at Vale
• Regulatory challenges - Taite McDonald, Senior Counsel in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., Office
• Multi-stakeholder collaboration: including local communities in the governance process - Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI)

Closing Remarks

• Benjamin Gedan, Director of the Latin America Program at Wilson Center

• Learn more about our The Wilson Center Latin America Energy Transition Initiative, https://lnkd.in/edHFwYRY.

   

Watch the video below.