Oxford EARTH takes the stage at London Climate Action Week
"What are the priority issues for academics to work on to improve the sustainability and equity of resourcing the materials needed for the energy transition?”
Oxford EARTH posed this question to leaders from business, industry, finance, and NGOs at the University of Oxford's London Climate Action Week event.
Building on presentations from researchers Dr Caitlin McElroy, Prof David Pyle, Dr Mark Hirons and Prof Michael Kendall, participants explored the knowledge gaps that should shape future research priorities for the sector. These included:
- How emerging technologies and policy developments, such as hydrogen production and circular economy strategies, are changing demand for critical minerals and creating new challenges for mineral supply and governance.
- How collaboration and experimentation can accelerate solutions, from large-scale industrial operations to community-led energy projects and innovative approaches to resource recovery.
The discussion then turned to a second and equally important question: “How can you or your organisation have ‘skin in the game’ in this work?”. Participants’ responses highlighted the importance of strong connections between academia, civil society, and those who can help translate innovation from the laboratory into real-world application.
The insights gained from London Climate Action Week will help shape Oxford EARTH’s future research directions and strengthen the partnerships needed to support a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient supply of the materials required for the energy transition.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their expertise and perspectives to the discussion, to our supportive team members Amanda Lee Ying, Dr Mehmet Metehan Çiftçi and Konstantin Nazarov, and to Dr Caitlin McElroy for leading the event.
Also huge thanks to the team from Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment for organising this space for us to convene around such important topics.
