OEA - CP- Resolución CIDI INF 714

INTER-AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT

OEA/Ser.W CIDI/INF.714/26 14 May 2026

Original: English

CONCEPT NOTE

REGULAR MEETING OF

INTER-AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT (CIDI) MAY 26, 2026

“CRITICAL MINERALS FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION: Securing Supply Chains and Promoting Sustainable Development in the Americas”

A. BACKGROUND

The global transition toward net-zero emissions is driving an unprecedented surge in demand for critical minerals. Technologies essential to this shift, including electric vehicle (EV) batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, and green hydrogen electrolyzers , rely heavily on a specific suite of minerals such as lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), reaching global climate goals could require a fourfold increase in mineral requirements for clean energy technologies by 20401/.

The Americas hold a preeminent position in the global landscape of these strategic resources. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) currently account for approximately 40% of the world’s copper production and account for an estimated 60% of global lithium resources, primarily concentrated in the "Lithium Triangle" of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile 2/. Furthermore, According to USGS data, Canada and the United States together account for approximately 2.5 million metric tons of identified nickel reserves, and significant rare earth element resources, strengthening the region’s potential role in supporting critical mineral supply chains and the global energy transition 3/4/. The region’s role is central to the global supply chain, yet the challenge remains in transitioning from extraction to higher-value industrial activity and integrated regional production linkages5/.

However, the current configuration of supply chains presents significant vulnerabilities. While the Americas are leaders in extraction, the midstream processing and refining stages remain highly

extraction to higher-value industrial activity and integrated regional production linkages5/.

However, the current configuration of supply chains presents significant vulnerabilities. While the Americas are leaders in extraction, the midstream processing and refining stages remain highly

1. IEA (2021). The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions.

https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

2. ECLAC (2023). Extraction and processing of lithium in Latin America. .

https://repositorio.cepal.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/8d505030-7686-44e1-9f6077ceb0610826/content

3. ECLAC (2025). Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2025: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for the Energy Transition. https://www.cepal.org/en/publications/83116foreign-direct-investment-latin-america-and-caribbean-2025

4. U.S. Geological Survey (2026). Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.

https://www.usgs.gov/publications/mineral-commodity-summaries-2026

5. Ibid. 4.- 2concentrated in other regions, particularly East Asia. This geographical imbalance creates risks of supply chain disruptions and limits the ability of Member States to capture the higher economic value associated with processed materials and component manufacturing.

Furthermore, the expansion of mining activities poses complex challenges. The environmental and social sustainability of extraction is a paramount concern; without rigorous standards and community engagement, the "green rush" risks exacerbating water scarc ity in arid regions, impacting biodiversity, and fueling social conflict. Strengthening the "Social License to Operate" is therefore not merely an ethical requirement but a strategic necessity for ensuring the stability of mineral supplies.

Recognizing these dynamics, there is an urgent need for regional cooperation to move beyond a purely extractive model. By fostering regional production linkages and technological innovation,

merely an ethical requirement but a strategic necessity for ensuring the stability of mineral supplies.

Recognizing these dynamics, there is an urgent need for regional cooperation to move beyond a purely extractive model. By fostering regional production linkages and technological innovation, Member States can create integrated value chains, from the mine to the battery, that enhance collective resilience. This requires coordinated policy frameworks that incentivize value addition, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the supply chain, and promote the sharing of best practices in sustainable mining technologies.

Strengthening the critical minerals sector in the Americas represents a dual opportunity: to catalyze the global energy transition while driving inclusive, sustainable economic growth and industrialization throughout the Hemisphere.

B. PURPOSE OF THE SESSION

This session aims to provide Member States with a platform for strategic dialogue on how to leverage the Hemisphere’s mineral wealth to ensure both energy security and sustainable development. As the global race for critical minerals intensifies, no single nation can navigate the complexities of these supply chains in isolation. The meeting will examine how the Americas can transition from being primary exporters of raw materials to becoming integrated hubs of innovation and manufacturing for the green economy.

Particular attention will be given to the development of regional production linkages. By coordinating industrial policies and trade frameworks, Member States can create a "Hemispheric Supply Chain" that reduces dependence on external processing and increa ses the resilience of the energy transition. The session will also explore the role of technological cooperation in improving the environmental footprint of mining, including water-saving technologies, tailings management, and the circular economy for mineral recycling.

Within this context, the dialogue will emphasize the importance of high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards as a competitive advantage. The session will discuss how regional cooperation can harmonize these standards to attract responsible investment and ensure that the benefits of the energy transition are shared equitably with local and indigenous communities.

Ultimately, the session will encourage Member States to view critical minerals not just as

and governance (ESG) standards as a competitive advantage. The session will discuss how regional cooperation can harmonize these standards to attract responsible investment and ensure that the benefits of the energy transition are shared equitably with local and indigenous communities.

Ultimately, the session will encourage Member States to view critical minerals not just as commodities, but as the foundational infrastructure for a secure, resilient, and integrated regional energy future.- 3C. AUDIENCE AND EXPECTATIONS

CIDI Meetings are attended by representatives of the Permanent Missions to the OAS. Given the specialized nature of this session, the participation of national authorities from Ministries of Mines, Energy, Environment, and Trade, as well as investment promotion agencies, is particularly encouraged. The session will also benefit from the insights of experts from international financial institutions, regional economic commissions, and industry leaders. The dialogue is expected to focus on practical policy roa dmaps, regulatory alignment, and the identification of strategic projects for regional cooperation.

D. STRUCTURE OF THE SESSION

The CIDI meeting will begin with the substantive thematic discussion described herein and continue with a series of procedural items. The first part of the meeting will include 7 -minute presentations from guest panelists, followed by interactive dialogue f acilitated by the Chair among invited experts and Member States.

In the interest of time, Member States are kindly requested to limit their interventions to 5 minutes from the floor. Interventions may be delivered directly by Permanent Missions or, at their request, by sectoral authorities. The discussion will center on identifying the policy instruments and cooperative mechanisms necessary to strengthen the critical minerals sector. Particular emphasis will be placed on value addition and the creation of regional industrial clusters. The session will also explore how th e OAS can support Member States in navigating the geopolitical and environmental complexities of mineral extraction.

Member State delegations are encouraged to consider the following guiding questions:

1. How can Member States collaborate to build more resilient and integrated regional supply chains for critical minerals?

2. What policy mechanisms are most effective for promoting value addition and domestic

complexities of mineral extraction.

Member State delegations are encouraged to consider the following guiding questions:

1. How can Member States collaborate to build more resilient and integrated regional supply chains for critical minerals?

2. What policy mechanisms are most effective for promoting value addition and domestic processing of minerals within the Americas?

3. How can regional cooperation improve the environmental and social sustainability of mining to ensure long-term stability and community support?

4. In what ways can technological innovation and the sharing of best practices enhance the efficiency and circularity of mineral use in the energy transition?

5. What role can the OAS play in facilitating dialogue between mineral -producing and mineral-consuming nations to harmonize ESG standards and investment frameworks?

E. OUTCOMES OF THE SESSION

The session is expected to elevate critical minerals as a central pillar of the hemispheric energy security and economic development agenda. It will promote a shared understanding of the strategic importance of the Americas in global supply chains and the necessity of moving toward higher value -added activities. Through this dialogue, the meeting will encourage Member States to identify specific areas for technical cooperation, such as joint research and development in battery technology and the harmonization of sustainable mining regulations. The insights generated will inform future CIDI4deliberations and contribute to the development of a regional framework for cooperation on strategic resources.

F. INVITED GUEST EXPERT PANELISTS

The following expert panelists will join the CIDI session (TBD)