Powering the Critical Minerals Conversation

The transition to a clean-energy economy depends on a secure, reliable supply of critical minerals, including lithium, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements—that are essential to our energy, economy, and national security, yet face significant supply-chain risks.

Recognizing the growing importance of these issues, Resources for the Future (RFF) is expanding its focus on critical minerals and the economic and policy questions around their supply. This year, our researchers examined the structural constraints, policy choices, and global relationships shaping critical mineral supply chains. From exploring the challenges of expanding domestic mineral production to understanding global dependence on Chinese supplies, RFF is helping policymakers identify vulnerabilities and explore policy options for building more resilient critical mineral supply chains.

We’re proud that this work is reaching policymakers directly: RFF Fellow Beia Spiller recently testified before Congress on the challenges of onshoring critical minerals, the role of environmental safeguards, and policy options for strengthening US domestic supply.

And, through our new Critical Minerals Research Lab, RFF brings these perspectives together to study one of the defining resource challenges of the energy transition. The lab also helps develop the next generation of researchers, giving students the opportunity to contribute to timely research and build expertise on these complex challenges.

As the importance of critical minerals continues to grow, so too does the need for independent research that can help decisionmakers navigate the economic and environmental questions surrounding them. This Founders’ Day, please consider making a gift to support RFF’s continued work on critical minerals and other urgent resource and environmental challenges—and help carry forward the mission on which RFF was founded.

Your support makes RFF’s independent, evidence-based research possible. Your generous contribution helps our researchers investigate complex policy questions, develop insights that can inform decisionmakers, and bring rigorous analysis to a rapidly changing landscape.