"What is sustainable extraction of critical metals and minerals?"

New Republic Insight #13

What is sustainable extraction of critical metals and minerals?

Critical metals and minerals are now seen as more than just industrial inputs. Their availability affects the ability to transition to an electrified society, ensure the production of defense equipment, and maintain digital infrastructure.

This means that they also have a direct impact on the freedom of action and independence of states in a globally interconnected world. At the same time, there has been increased focus on how these resources are secured, extracted, and used, not least because strategic, climate-related, and long-term perspectives often pull in different directions.

It soon becomes clear that these goals are often difficult to reconcile. In Sweden and parts of Europe, mineral resources are bound in rock formations where extraction can have serious environmental consequences. The extraction process itself is also energy-intensive and associated with emissions, which risks counteracting climate policy ambitions. At the same time, increased import dependency can create new vulnerabilities, both economically and in terms of security policy.

Mineral policy thus appears to be a complex balancing act between different societal goals. The pursuit of greater self-sufficiency in critical metals and minerals must be weighed against other key priorities, such as protecting ecosystems, securing food and water supplies, and defense needs. The question is therefore how policy can be designed from a holistic perspective, where energy, climate, security, and resource use are seen as interdependent rather than separate areas. The challenge lies in identifying ways in which these goals can not only be balanced against each other, but also reinforce each other as much as possible.

Elin Eek

Associate Consultant