Decarbonizing Critical Mineral (CM) Supply Chains

As the clean energy transition accelerates global demand for copper, lithium, nickel and synthetic graphite, decarbonizing their supply chains has become an urgent policy and industry priority. The project covers both upstream (mining) and midstream (refining and processing) segments, providing a comprehensive view of where emissions originate and where the greatest reduction opportunities lie.

The team constructed a structured emissions-intensity database capturing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across supply chain stages and mineral types, including emissions intensities for over 75% of lithium produced globally. Through rigorous research and over 20 expert interviews spanning industry, research institutions, academia, and government, the team assessed key drivers of emissions intensity such as energy source, ore grade, geography, and process technology.

The analytical framework translated these technical findings into a prioritized decarbonization roadmap, categorizing opportunities across near-and medium-term implementation horizons. The team also identified barriers to adoption, including cost, technology readiness, and regulatory gaps, and offered key policy recommendations to address these constraints.

The final deliverable provided the IEA with a robust quantitative database and actionable decarbonization roadmap identifying and analyzing major opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with critical minerals production. This research supported IEA’s flagship publications and policy dialogues with its 32 Member countries and 13 Association countries. By combining analytical rigor and real-world stakeholder engagement, this project offered a meaningful contribution to one of the central challenges of the global energy transition.