Respect for human rights, environmental protection… UN unveils energy transition recommendations

The United Nations (UN) has released seven recommendations that will help countries accelerate the clean energy transition.

The recommendations are contained in a report titled ‘Resourcing the energy transition: principles to guide critical energy transition minerals towards equity and justice’.

The report followed calls from developing countries over perceived inequality in the energy transition.

In a statement on Wednesday, Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, said the report identified ways to ground the renewables revolution in justice and equity to spur sustainable development.

The recommendations include respect for human rights, safeguarding the integrity of the planet and biodiversity, promoting justice and equity along the critical mineral value chains, and fostering economic diversification through development.

Others are responsible investments and trade, good governance, and promotion of peace and security through multilateral cooperation.

Guterres noted that the recommendations will allow young and indigenous people to be part of decision-making.

“Today’s report from the panel on critical energy transition minerals is a how-to guide to help generate prosperity and equality alongside clean power,” Guterres said in the statement.

“The report makes recommendations on critical minerals at a crucial time.

“We established the panel in response to calls from developing countries, amid signs that the energy transition could reproduce and amplify inequalities of the past—banishing developing countries to the bottom of value chains to watch others grow rich by exploiting their people and putting their environment in jeopardy.”