Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The global landscape of critical raw materials (CRMs) governance is undergoing a profound transformation. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals (CETMs) aims to catalyse a shift from extractive, short-term policies to a model prioritising equity, sustainability, and industrial transformation. The UN Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the UN Resource Management System (UNRMS), developed at UNECE, provide practical tools to make this a reality on the ground.
Discussions at the International Round Table on Materials Criticality (IRTC) 2025 Conference (19-21 February, Ljubljana) themed “From Raw Material Policies to Practice,” together with the workshop on North-South Collaboration in CRMs, highlighted trends in the transition from resource extraction to more responsible resource stewardship.
The CETM Panel’s guiding principles, emphasizing resource sovereignty, sustainable supply chains, and fair market access, prompt policymakers, industries, and investors to rethink outdated CRM strategies. Regional trade frameworks like the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement are beginning to reflect this new reality, embedding strong environmental, social, and economic governance standards into CRM agreements.
A new model for North-South collaboration
This policy shift is shaping a new model of North-South collaboration, moving beyond the historical raw material export model toward domestic value addition, industrialization, and technology partnerships. Discussions highlighted the shift from extraction to processing in the Lithium Triangle (Bolivia, Argentina, Chile) and the potential to integrate sustainability and social responsibility in CRM development. Over the past seven years, lithium operations in the region have significantly reduced water use while increasing investment in local communities. Indonesia’s nickel beneficiation strategy, which triggered a 20-fold increase in local investment, was highlighted as a blueprint for future CRM development.
The workshop on “Equity, value, and Innovation: North-South Collaboration for Sustainable CRM Development”, organized by UNECE and ESM Foundation, reinforced that North-South collaboration must be redefined not as a dependency but as a partnership. Nations in the Global South are no longer just suppliers of raw materials—they are increasingly asserting control over processing and production. The African Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS) is a step in this direction, integrating fiscal incentives, infrastructure, and investment policies to build entire mineral-based industrial value chains.
UNFC & UNRMS: Tools to write the future, not repeat the past
No longer just theoretical frameworks, UNFC and UNRMS are being actively implemented across Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, offering a transparent, standardized, and future-proofed approach to CRMs governance. These tools empower resource-rich nations to make informed decisions that balance economic benefits with environmental and social responsibilities.
The road ahead
As industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers align around these principles, the future of CRMs governance will be dictated not by short-term market fluctuations but by long-term strategic planning. Karen Hanghøj, Director of the British Geological Survey and Chair of the Expert Group on Resource Management at UNECE said, “We are not only witnessing a shift in resource governance—we are shaping a new paradigm. The challenge is ensuring these principles translate into concrete policies that empower resource-rich nations while securing stable and sustainable supply chains. UNFC and UNRMS are more than technical frameworks—they are tools for writing the future of resource management, ensuring that we do not repeat past mistakes”.