Doing more with less: A European Critical Raw Materials Strategy fit for Cleantech Competitiveness
September 27, 2023
As the EU Green Deal agenda comes into force, the EU sets out to profoundly transform its technological landscape. Delivering this massive transformation relies heavily on critical raw materials (CRMs) such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, manganese and rare earths.
However, Europe’s supply of CRMs carries a high risk of supply disruption, due to geographic concentration of supply coupled with a current lack of equally effective and affordable substitutes. So far, the role that innovative cleantech could play has been underexplored.
By failing to put cleantech innovation at the center of its CRM strategy, the EU risks falling short in both its security of supply goals as well as its climate and environmental goals.
