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G20 Critical Minerals Framework
December 1, 2025
[pdf]
This G20 Critical Minerals Framework in its entirety is a voluntary, non-binding, cooperative blueprint to ensure that critical mineral resources become a driver of prosperity and sustainable development. As the global economy undergoes a transition along sustainable industrial pathways and rapid digitalisation, an increased demand for critical minerals has been sparked, yet the benefits of these resources may be unevenly distributed. Producer countries, particularly developing countries, face underinvestment, limited value addition, economic, social and environmental challenges.
The G20, representing about 85% of global GDP and 75% of international trade, is uniquely positioned to bridge these gaps and align efforts for a more equitable and sustainable critical minerals ecosystem. Under South Africa’s Presidency’s theme of “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” this Framework seeks to rebalance the global critical minerals value chains in a manner that benefits all nations. It emphasises solidarity among G20 members and guest countries in supporting resource-endowed developing countries to enable greater equality in the distribution of benefits and value creation from mineral resources and promote sustainability through responsible economic, social and environmental practices whilst fully respecting their sovereign rights over their national resources.
This Framework is structured around six strategic pillars that address the critical mineral value chain end-to-end: (1) Mapping and Exploration: expanding geological knowledge and exploration investment in under explored regions; (2) Governance, Relevant Standards on Economic, Social and Environmental Aspects strengthening sustainable mining practices, transparency, and good governance; (3) Investment, Value Addition and Local Development: spurring local sustainable processing, infrastructure, and economic diversification in producer countries and position processing hubs supporting both in-country beneficiation and regional value chain integration; (4) Resilient and Diversified Value Chains promoting open non-discriminatory trade and diversified supply routes; (5) Innovation, Circularity and Technology: Accelerating technological cooperation with regard to circularity, including innovation uptake through the development and diffusion of inclusive, people-centred technology that supports inclusive development and innovation; and (6) Skills, Capacity and Knowledge Exchange: Developing future-ready human capital and high demand, specialized, sector-specific capabilities and competencies with a strong focus on youth, women, people with disabilities, people in vulnerable situations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
By uniting on this Framework, G20 members collectively support fostering an inclusive and sustainable critical minerals ecosystem. Key outcomes envisioned include increased exploration in the developing countries, higher value retention by developing countries, economic, social, environmental safeguards and national frameworks and more resilient global supply networks. This Framework may be implemented through phased actions and through partnerships and support of competent organisations, industry and civil society.
Modern industrialisation and digital technologies require a diverse range of resources, solutions and approaches, many of which depend on the availability of critical minerals. As global demand accelerates across multiple sectors, ensuring sustainable value chains for critical minerals, including materials beneficiated at source and high-tech solutions, has become a strategic priority.
Demand is concentrated in industrialised economies, while many mineral-endowed developing countries struggle to capture a fair share of the value. Mineral-endowed nations in Africa, Latin America and Asia often face underdeveloped infrastructure, insufficient investment in extraction and processing, decent work conditions and unequal access to downstream economic benefits. This has led to a scenario where these countries export raw materials and import final products, jobs and technologies thus perpetuating inequality. Reliable, diversified, sustainable and resilient value chains and stable markets that can reduce global vulnerabilities.
Against this backdrop, the G20 has a pivotal role to play. Together, G20 members account for the majority of world GDP, trade and industrial output, giving the forum both the ability and the influence to foster collaboration between producer and consumer nations. The G20’s diverse membership includes major commodity producers, advanced manufacturing economies and emerging markets, enabling it to foster dialogue that bridges different perspectives.
The Framework proposes six interrelated strategic pillars for action, each addressing key challenges across the critical minerals value chain. These pillars aim to expand opportunities for developing countries, enhance supply security for all and embed sustainability at every step. This Framework calls for increasing geological exploration in producer countries strengthening governance standards and transparency; mobilising investments for local value addition; diversifying value chains through cooperation and open, non-discriminatory trade; accelerating innovation and circularity and investing in relevant skills and knowledge exchange to build competent and future ready workforce.
In formulating this Framework, G20 members note existing efforts to avoid duplication. By anchoring the South African Presidency’s approach in these efforts, South Africa ensures coherence, mutual reinforcement and shared learnings. The G20’s value-add is to amplify and connect these efforts for example linking mineral-endowed countries with technical and financial support from multiple partners, promoting a unified non-politicised agenda that balances global supply security with local development needs. Through voluntary cooperation under this Framework, G20 members endeavour to create a more inclusive, sustainable, resilient and participatory critical minerals ecosystem that supports a collective future.
The following voluntary and non-binding guiding principles underpin the Critical Minerals Framework and reflect G20 values and priorities. These principles may guide actions under the Framework, ensuring solidarity, equality and sustainability:
Promote critical mineral exploration, extraction, processing and recycling in line with relevant standards on governance, economic, social and environmental aspects in the context of the SDGs in all its dimensions. G20 members support the promotion of sustainable mining practices in line with national laws and regulations.
Producer countries should be enabled and encouraged to capture more value from mineral resources through in-country processing and regional hubs of refining and manufacturing, with the support of multilateralism and non-discriminatory, non-politicised international cooperation as necessary This principle supports industrialisation and diversification of economies, particularly in developing countries, so that critical minerals become a catalyst for broad-based development rather than just raw material exports. G20 members support policies and partnerships that attract and promote investment and the establishment of downstream industries, create jobs and foster related sectors in mineral endowed countries, supporting domestic and regional business environments and infrastructure.
Resource endowed countries, developing countries in particular, should have fair opportunities to participate at every stage of the critical minerals value chain, from exploration and mining to processing, recycling, and deployment in end-use industries. This includes addressing barriers that currently limit developing countries’ participation, such as technology gaps, financing constraints, and skills shortages. The G20 cooperation will emphasise capacity building, technical assistance and voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, ensuring that knowledge and innovation are shared in a way that benefits all. A special focus will be placed on the empowerment and the representation of people in vulnerable situations, including women, youth, persons with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples to foster diversity and inclusion.
Good governance, and transparency are essential elements of national legal frameworks to ensure that critical mineral endowment translates into sustainable development outcomes. The Framework champions adherence to anti-corruption and anti–illicit financial flow in accordance with national laws and protecting business privacy. G20 members may encourage the adoption of the best practices and initiatives to combat illicit activities and ensure that transactions throughout the mineral value chains are fair and transparent.
G20 members may foster non-politicised diversified, secure, stable, equitable, reliable, sustainable and resilient value chains through international collaboration, open and fair trade and public-private partnerships. G20 members support the fostering of open, non-discriminatory predictable and market-driven cooperation in the trading of critical minerals, avoiding unilateral trade measures inconsistent with WTO rules. By strengthening value chain resilience as well as regional processing hubs in a mutually beneficial way the G20 members can better insulate the global economy from shocks and ensure all countries have reliable access to the necessary critical minerals they need for sustainable development and energy security.
Promote circularity, eco-design, recycling, reuse, and innovation across the life cycle of critical minerals to reduce waste and environmental impacts. A sustainable critical minerals sector should strive to minimise waste, maximise use of resources and enhance product durability. G20 members note the principles of circularity in the context of minerals: promoting recycling, increasing mineral efficiency to reduce usage, re-use of materials, substitution with less scarce materials where feasible and extending the life cycle of critical minerals to ease environmental impact and support long-term resource security. This among other measures includes harnessing technologies and supporting business models for the recovery of minerals from electronic waste, batteries, and other end-of-life products, as well as designing products for disassembling and recycling.
Innovation is vital to solve the challenges in critical mineral development, from exploration, minerals development and mining through processing to recycling. G20 members will support the development, deployment and dissemination of advanced technologies, including those tailored to local needs and conditions. This also includes digital tools sustainable emerging processing techniques. Recognising that many developing countries require support to access cutting-edge technologies, the Framework promotes international cooperation, voluntary and on mutually agreed terms technology transfer and knowledge sharing. Technology partnerships will be guided by will focus on capacity building so that recipient countries can adapt and eventually enhance local innovation capacity and taking into account respect for intellectual property. Cooperation in research and development, joint pilot projects and open innovation networks are ways to accelerate technology dissemination. Achieving long-term resilience and inclusive growth in the critical minerals sector depends on cultivating a skilled workforce and building robust capabilities.
All actions under this Framework will be aligned with broader global and regional sustainable development objectives. Each G20 member’s national circumstances, development plans and strategies will be respected, ensuring that this Framework complements domestic priorities such as poverty reduction, economic growth, energy security, affordability and access.
These Principles reflect a balance of ambition and pragmatism aiming for transformative change in the sector while ensuring that cooperation remains voluntary, inclusive, and sensitive to member countries’ context. All G20 members are encouraged to consider these Principles in working together on critical minerals development.
Objective: Significantly scale up cooperation with mineral-endowed countries for geological surveying and exploration activities in under-explored regions to discover new critical mineral deposits for the future. This pillar seeks to bridge the exploration financing gap that many mineral endowed countries face, recognising that early-stage exploration is high-risk and often overlooked by private investors. It is also necessary to meet the needs of funding and credit guarantees for junior companies in completion of their mining projects in face of private volatility of commodities, mineral assets in capital markets. Improved geological knowledge and data accessibility will de-risk investments, attract sustainable mining, and unlock new sources of critical minerals.
Proposed Actions: G20 members encourage greater investment in geological surveying and exploration by facilitating cooperation through existing financing mechanisms and instruments, development banks and regional geological agencies. Members will encourage and expand mapping and exploration initiatives in under-served regions. Support for early-stage exploration can be mobilised through existing partnerships with institutions such as the national geological surveys and multilateral development banks. Furthermore, G20 members encourage mobilising multilateral credit guarantees and funding instruments to support the financing of critical minerals projects carried out by junior companies in the face of private volatility of commodities and mineral assets in capital markets.
In addition to greenfield exploration, G20 members will encourage brownfield exploration where appropriate, leveraging and expanding known deposits through the modernisation of existing geological knowledge and infrastructure.
Objective: Strengthen the governance of critical mineral value chains and complement them with non-discriminatory standards for economic, environmental protection, social responsibility and transparency in accordance with national circumstances, laws, regulations, priorities, needs and protect business-sensitive information. This pillar addresses the need for robust frameworks to ensure that the exploitation of critical minerals contributes positively to sustainable development. It involves combating illicit activities, improving regulatory practices and fostering best practices in the mining sector, including in artisanal and small-scale mining. By elevating governance, relevant standards on economic, social and environmental aspects, G20 members aim to create a level playing field, fair competition and fair trade to increase trust among producers, consumers and investors.
Proposed Actions: As part of this effort the following factors may be discussed:
The G20 takes note of existing initiatives, and regional mining governance frameworks, which may be used as references.
Objective: Mobilise investment in infrastructure, support national logistic strategies such as rail-to-port mineral corridors integrated with national industrial hubs, processing and recycling facilities, industrial ecosystems in producer countries, developing countries in particular. This will ensure that they can add value to the raw minerals and spur local economic development, through the creation of the necessary conditions for investment. This pillar focuses on enabling mineral-endowed countries to move up the value chain for instance, by refining ores, manufacturing components or producing battery precursors rather than exporting unprocessed raw materials. It also emphasises the development of supporting infrastructure (energy, transportation, logistics), processing facilities, industrial ecosystems, and the linkage of the mining sector with broader local economies. By doing so, critical minerals can become a foundation for industrial diversification, decent and quality jobs and improved living standards.
Proposed Actions: G20 members encourage and support the mobilisation of investment in value chains and infrastructure, in line with the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment through partnerships with existing international financial institutions, development banks and private sector actors with full respect to national priorities. The objective is to enable mineral-endowed countries whilst respecting national sovereignty to capture more value from mineral resources by supporting the development of integrated value chains including in-country beneficiation, transport and energy infrastructure and industrial ecosystems that extend beyond mining.
G20 members will as appropriate, explore development finance instruments, such as blended finance, local currency solutions and public-private partnerships to catalyse investment in:
To guide these efforts, G20 members support the development of regional critical minerals value chain strategies that foster cross-border collaboration, as appropriate. This can enable countries within a region to specialise along different segments of the value chain. More local processing and manufacturing means that a larger portion of the value from the mineral resources stays in-country, resulting in more employment, skills development and business opportunities for local suppliers. Over time, this contributes to economic diversification and reducing dependence on raw commodity exports. It also benefits global consumers by expanding the overall supply base and creating new reliable sources for processed mineral products.
Objective: Enhance the resilience of global critical mineral value chains by upholding the principles of free trade and defending the multilateral trading system promoting diversification of mineral sources, routes, markets and processing locations while ensuring these value chains are diverse and remain free from discriminatory measures and are inclusive of producer developing countries, as well as respecting sovereign rights over their resources. This pillar seeks to ensure that the value chain of critical minerals can better withstand disruptions whether due to geopolitical tensions, unilateral trade measures inconsistent with WTO rules, pandemics, or natural disasters and that more producer countries can participate in and benefit from value chains. A key aspect is encouraging open trade and investment flows under predictable rules so that minerals and processed products can move efficiently from where they are produced to where they are needed.
Proposed Actions: Interested G20 members may consider launching a Critical Minerals Trade and Connectivity Initiative focused on leveraging existing regional programmes and improving the infrastructure of global mineral trade. Under this initiative, G20 members and along with the support of relevant international organisations would collaborate on several fronts, as appropriate:
The G20 will move the global critical mineral trade toward a more robust, and resilient network that is less susceptible to disruption. Developing countries will have improved access to global markets and consumer countries will benefit from a more secure and steady supply. This pillar focusses on open, non-discriminatory trade and helps to prevent the fragmentation of critical mineral markets. Instead, it promotes an integrated global marketplace where all can compete fairly. Diversifying value chains enhances global economic security and can also foster international cooperation, as countries become partners in building resilience.
Objective: Accelerate the development, voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, knowledge sharing, technology partnerships and adoption of innovation and technology that can improve the circularity, efficiency, sustainability and value-generation of the critical minerals sector. This pillar recognizes technological innovation from advanced exploration techniques to sustainable mining processes and recycling methods. It is key to overcoming current limitations and ensuring long-term, sustainable supply. It also acknowledges the technological divide many developing countries need support to access and implement cutting-edge solutions. Therefore, the aim is threefold: promote sustainable mining practices to extend the life of mineral resources, to reduce waste and facilitate voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms and knowledge-sharing so that all countries can benefit from innovation in the critical minerals sector.
Proposed Actions: G20 members would support the promotion of voluntary partnerships and leverage existing programmes to support innovation, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms and circularity across the critical minerals value chain. Recognising the importance of appropriate and sustainable technologies, the G20 would facilitate cooperation to accelerate their adoption and dissemination.
Actions under this pillar would include:
Exploring as appropriate the possibility of developing Mineral Development Zones (MDZs) to create technology and innovation ecosystems that drive sustainable, diversified, stable, resilient and competitive critical mineral value chains. Located near mining sites, MDZs will host beneficiation and manufacturing activities to foster inclusive growth, transform post-mining landscapes and catalyse sustainable industries for long-term socio-economic impact. All technology cooperation promoted under this pillar will be voluntary, respecting the principles of mutually agreed terms and national sovereignty over their natural resources. Members of the G20 may take into account existing initiatives to maximise impact and as appropriate, avoid duplication.
By fostering innovation and technology partnerships, Pillar 5 aims to build the technological and institutional capacity needed for a sustainable and inclusive global critical minerals ecosystem.
Objective: Develop human capital and institutional capacity required to support all aspects of the critical minerals value chain. This pillar is about investing in people, from miners and engineers including artisanal and small-scale miners to regulators and researchers and strengthening institutions that govern the mining sector. Without skilled professionals and effective institutions, countries cannot fully benefit from their mineral endowments or implement reforms and technologies envisaged in other pillars. By facilitating training, education, knowledge-sharing and skills the G20 aims to empower member countries to manage and grow their critical minerals sector in a sustainable, innovative and inclusive way. This includes youth, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as persons in vulnerable situations, to ensure the sector’s future is diverse and socially inclusive.
Proposed Actions: G20 members may be encouraged to support existing efforts and collaboration, including national and/or regional initiatives such as Centres of Excellence and regional hubs dedicated to mining education and training. These could be implemented in cooperation with universities, vocational institutes, and research centres in different regions and according to national priorities. Key focus areas for capacity-building cooperation include:
Through Pillar 6, the Framework will help cultivate a skilled workforce and robust institutions that endure over the long term. Investing in human capital will ensure that mineral wealth translates into knowledge and expertise that remain in-country. It will help developing countries innovate and adapt, rather than remain dependent on external expertise. In essence, this pillar is about empowerment enabling countries to not only extract minerals, but also to manage their resources effectively and to drive their own value addition and innovation. The ultimate vision is for mineral endowed developing countries to be full partners in the global critical mineral’s economy, contributing intellectual capital and leadership, not just raw materials. It is worth exploring the potential for regional collaboration, especially in Africa, to connect countries with mineral resources with neighbours that have complementary assets, like an existing manufacturing base and leverage the potential for shared infrastructure in areas like energy and transport, as appropriate.
It is important that the proposed actions within these six areas are aligned within a comprehensive policy mix, reflecting the specific circumstances of individual countries.
Under the leadership of the South African G20 Presidency, the G20 voluntary and non-binding Critical Minerals Framework marks a significant milestone in promoting a just, inclusive, and sustainable global minerals diplomacy. The Framework responds to the urgent need for international cooperation to secure sustainable, transparent, stable and resilient critical minerals value chains that underpin industrialisation and sustainable development.
Grounded in the principles of cooperation, sustainable development and mutual benefit, this Framework puts forward a cooperative outline to unlock investment in mineral exploration, promote local beneficiation at source and strengthen governance for sustainable mining practices. It fully preserves the sovereign right of mineral endowed countries to harness their endowments for inclusive economic growth, while ensuring, economic, social and environmental stewardship, conservation and community participation.
Source: South Africa's 2925 G20 presidency
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