Chapter 07 · Materials & footprintsCircular Economy & Materials
Critical minerals
Definition
Critical minerals are minerals and metals assessed as vital to economic or energy security and the clean-energy transition, while facing elevated supply risk. The IEA's analysis shows clean-energy technologies are far more mineral-intensive than their fossil counterparts — an electric car requires about six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car, and an onshore wind plant nine times those of a gas plant — with lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, copper and rare earths central to demand growth.
References
mineral intensity of clean technologies and supply outlook
Overview
What it means
The energy transition shifts dependence from fuels to minerals, moving geopolitical and environmental pressures upstream into mining jurisdictions.
How it is used
Governments publish critical-minerals lists and strategies (e. g. EU Critical Raw Materials Act, US DOE assessments); the term drives recycling policy, supply-chain due diligence and investment in diversified supply.
Why it matters
Mineral supply is a binding constraint on decarbonisation speed; critical minerals link climate policy to mining governance, indigenous rights and circular-economy strategy.