EU's race for lithium and rare earths sidelined calls to reduce consumption, finds study
In 2024, the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) came into force. The regulation is intended to secure Europe's supply of critical raw materials, especially minerals and metals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. The EU is therefore focusing on reducing its dependence on third countries such as China, boosting domestic minerals and metals production, and expanding recycling. In a…
The Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) came into force in 2024, aimed at securing Europe's supply of essential minerals and metals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. This move to reduce dependence on countries such as China led researchers to analyze political narratives shaping the debate. Findings from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) indicate that sustainability principles have been sidelined in favor of ensuring security of supply.
Despite warnings from scientists about ecological and geopolitical risks, policy has focused on securing supplies rather than reducing consumption. The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, examined over 180 documents to trace the evolution of narratives from corporate competitiveness to strategic autonomy, emphasizing supply security as the overarching concern.
Alternative ideas like sufficiency and demand reduction have been marginalized due to the prevailing narrative that frames the issue primarily as a supply problem. The research highlights the limited role of sustainability aspects in the CRMA, underscoring the need for new narratives to address rising material demand and promote sustainable practices.
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