Evaluating National Policy Frameworks for Mainstreaming Biodiversity in G7 Mineral and Metal Investments

Team Members: Adriana Ng (Manager), Aaron Calzadilla Sarmiento (Deputy Manager), Michelle Cimino, Giacomo Di Capua, Ismail Hidayat, Chandrakiran Lakshmisha, Noam Shapiro, Lesley Tilghman, Yineng Yong, and Ashley Yoon.

This project evaluates national policy frameworks for mainstreaming biodiversity in G7 mineral and metal investments, prepared for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Drawing on a review of recent literature, stakeholder interviews, and an analysis of policy developments related to critical minerals across G7 countries since 2024, it identifies a growing disconnect between the rapid pace of G7 critical minerals and metals policies and the comparatively limited integration of biodiversity considerations into those frameworks. As demand accelerates, driven by the energy transition, industrial policy goals, and intensifying geopolitical competition, governments are moving quickly to secure supply chains, but a majority of these policies are soft and nonbinding, and biodiversity remains largely peripheral. Three findings emerge: effective, scalable governance responses to well-established mining risks are underdeveloped, especially where regulatory capacity is limited; existing policies prioritize supply chain security, industrial competitiveness, and energy independence; and fragmented governance with inconsistent definitions limits cross-country comparability. The project recommends that WCS strengthen its internal capacity and tools, advocate for earlier and more systematic integration of biodiversity into policy design and financial flows, and support policies that reduce reliance on new extraction. As France prepares to chair the 2026 G7 Summit, WCS has a prime opportunity to assert leadership on the global stage.

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