The need for a strategic recycling approach to take up the challenge of critical metals
In September 2010, China stopped all exports of rare earths and associated products to Japan, depriving Japan’s industry of essential raw materials. This decision highlighted the tensions around the trade of critical materials and China’s monopoly on a group of particular metals. Western countries had already taken some initiatives so as to reduce, or at least to analyse their vulnerabilities in the segment of critical materials.
As early as 2008, the European Commission developed the initiative for critical materials (Raw Materials Initiative), which is based on three pillars: the sustainable and legal production of mineral raw materials, the control of European Union supply routes and a strategy of resource efficiency through recycling. It has also led to the preparation and adoption of a list of critical materials.
This brief is available in French only: Face au défi des métaux critiques, une approche stratégique du recyclage s’impose
Author(s)
Raphaël DANINO-PERRAUD
Associate Research Fellow, Energy and Climate Center, Ifri
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Ifri's Energy and Climate Center carries out activities and research on the geopolitical and geoeconomic issues of energy transitions such as energy security, competitiveness, control of value chains, and acceptability. Specialized in the study of European energy/climate policies as well as energy markets in Europe and around the world, its work also focuses on the energy and climate strategies of major powers such as the United States, China or India. It offers recognized expertise, enriched by international collaborations and events, particularly in Paris and Brussels.
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