Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The UN Security Council convened to examine the role of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and copper in the global clean energy transition. Demand for these minerals is expected to triple by 2030, prompting discussions on their geopolitical and social impacts.
The session highlighted that some mineral-rich areas, such as Rubaya in eastern DR Congo, are controlled by militias, raising concerns over mineral wealth financing conflict and corruption.
Delegates debated whether the extraction and trade of these minerals could be harnessed to promote peace and sustainable economic development, instead of perpetuating instability.