Critical minerals discussions at the World Forum on Enterprise & the Environment

A recent discussion led by Oxford EARTH Co-Investigator Dr Caitlin McElroy explored emerging research and solutions to the challenges of meeting growing critical mineral demand for the energy transition. 

Bringing together speakers Samira Barzin, Lucy Crane and Henry Hall, as well as delegates from across and beyond the minerals sector, the session covered topics ranging from geothermal mining and circularity to supply resilience and evolving policy landscapes. 

Across the discussion, two key themes emerged: 

Timescales 

Mining projects take a long time to develop and established practices can be slow to change, while environmental and social impacts can persist far into the future. This highlighted the importance of making changes now to avoid embedding these impacts for decades to come. 

Stewardship 

The conversation considered what stewardship means in practice, who needs to take responsibility for it, and how new approaches to mining technology and governance could support a more sustainable future.

Beyond the key themes, the discussion also highlighted practical opportunities for change, including greater supply chain transparency and prospective mineral fingerprinting, alongside innovation in water and tailings management and opportunities to recover further resources from mining waste, including waste water.

The session was part of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment’s World Forum on Enterprise & the Environment 2026. Under the theme Paris 2.0: Reinventing Climate Leadership in Turbulent Times, the Forum brought together leaders from policy, business, civil society and academia to consider how progress towards the Paris Agreement can be maintained in a changing geopolitical landscape.