“A shift towards circular mineral value chains – spanning design, reuse, recycling and secondary markets – offers a pathway to align security, sustainability and development objectives’”
CIRCULARITY AS A BRIDGE FOR WIN–WIN PARTNERSHIPS
Such a partnership could operationalise the G7’s existing commitments under the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles, moving from recognition to implementation. TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE GLOBAL MINERALS REGIME There remains a significant gap in global governance for not only critical minerals but resources and materials more broadly. For the G7 the key challenge is to move beyond incremental coordination towards shaping a more inclusive global critical minerals regime. Existing institutions are fragmented, mandates are limited and coordination across value chains is weak. The G7 is well positioned to elevate dis- cussions about an international materials agency from a concept towards a political process, helping to shape a more coherent global framework. However, such an initi- ative can only succeed if it is developed in close cooperation with G20 members and key producer countries, ensuring legiti- macy and shared ownership. Moving in this direction would mark important pro- gress towards a more coordinated and effective global materials governance architecture. The G7 has taken significant first steps in recognising the strategic importance of critical minerals. But resilient supply cannot be achieved through securitisa- tion of supply alone. In an increasingly interconnected and resource-constrained world, resilience will depend on circular- ity, cooperation and inclusivity.
Circularity is often treated as a com- plementary measure rather than a core pillar of minerals security. This limits its potential. Recycling, refurbishment and remanufacturing could signifi- cantly reduce primary demand pressures, enhance supply resilience and create new industrial opportunities – particularly in emerging and developing economies. This is where circularity can play a transform- ative role. A shift towards circular mineral value chains – spanning design, reuse, recycling and secondary markets – offers a pathway to align security, sustainability and development objectives. Circular approaches can: •
Provide stable secondary sup- plies that reduce dependence on primary extraction, easing geopo- litical competition over resources; Create new industrial ecosystems, including recycling and reman- ufacturing hubs in emerging economies; Support environmental and social goals, by lowering the footprint of mineral supply chains; and Enable more balanced partner- ships, where value is created and retained across regions.
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lie within the G20 and beyond. With- out deeper engagement with these actors (particularly in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia), G7 strategies risk reinforcing fragmentation rather than resilience. Moreover, there is growing rec- ognition that more effective frameworks on environmental protection, labour rights and value addition are needed and must be co-developed with partner countries, reflecting their development priorities and sovereignty concerns.
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Building on this, the 2026 Think 7 Task Force on Critical Mineral Value Chains has recommended the creation of a flag- ship circular critical minerals partnership – a dedicated platform for financing, standards setting and policy alignment.
With growth slowing and families struggling to make ends meet, it is an appalling injustice when money ends up in the hands of criminals – money that could be spent on much-needed global growth and development”
// PATRICK SCHRÖDER Patrick Schröder is a senior research fellow at Chatham House. He is an international sustainability expert specialising in climate change, resource governance, the circular economy and the Sustainable Development Goals. He works at the intersection of science, policy and media to advance evidence-based policies, communicate complex sustainability issues and promote equitable govern- ance solutions at the multilateral level. He currently serves as coordinating lead author for the IPCC Assessment Report 7 (WG III – Mitigation) and for the UN Global Environment Outlook 7. He is co-chair of the Think 7 Task Force on Critical Minerals Value Chains for the 2026 G7 presidency.
X-TWITTER @patricks_CH chathamhouse.org
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