Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, together with Sweden’s Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, announced Sweden’s accession to the Sustainable Critical Mineral Alliance (SCMA). Established under Canada’s leadership in December 2022, the SCMA comprises Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the US, aiming to advance environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive mining, processing, and recycling practices for critical minerals.
The Alliance aligns with the G7 2030 Nature Compact commitment to combat biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable development practices. It emphasizes:
- Nature-positive industry approaches
- Support for local and Indigenous communities
- Reduction of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
- Ecosystem restoration through stringent mine site reclamation
- Promotion of a circular economy for critical minerals
- Ethical corporate practices through sustainability reporting and supply chain due diligence
Members of the SCMA advocate for collaboration across sectors and with non-state actors to achieve these objectives globally. Minister Wilkinson highlighted the SCMA’s role in securing responsibly sourced critical minerals essential for the clean energy transition, underscoring Canada’s commitment to high environmental, social, and governance standards.
Minister Busch emphasized Sweden’s alignment with the SCMA’s goals, stressing the importance of sustainability and social acceptance in the mining industry. Minister Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, concluded on the economic and environmental benefits of transitioning towards responsible critical mineral supply chains, highlighting job creation and emission reductions as key outcomes.
The SCMA stands as a pivotal initiative in the global effort to address climate change through sustainable resource management and international cooperation.