From April 22 to 26, 2024, a Resource Management Week was held at the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva.
The Week's program focused on the theme "Ensuring sustainability in resource management", which combined thematic sessions, practical seminars and expert presentations on various aspects of sustainable use of natural resources. In total, over 120 delegates took part in the events of the Resource Management Week, including business representatives, diplomats, researchers and young people.
With the support of the UN Global Compact Network Russia, Vadim Kuznetsov, a youth delegate from the Russian Federation, Director for Sustainable Development and Climate Change of the BRICS Youth Energy Agency and a member of the UNECE Group of Young Experts on Resource Management (hereinafter referred to as the Group), took part in the events of the Resource Management Week. During the session on the contribution of youth to sustainable resource management, Vadim made a presentation on the results of the Group's work over the past year on the Critical Minerals agenda, and also presented the UNECE Guidelines on Critical Minerals for a Sustainable Energy Transition. This document was developed by an international group of young experts from 19 countries and is devoted to current issues in the field of extraction, use, recycling and disposal of Critical Minerals necessary for the production of low-carbon technologies, including renewable energy facilities and electric transport. The document also presents practical cases of the application of key multilateral resource management tools: the UN Framework Classification and the UN Resource Management System.
Following the presentation, a panel discussion was held, the participants of which discussed the prospects for further cooperation on the Critical Mineral agenda. The panelists, including young experts and representatives of the UN regional Economic Commissions, stressed the need for greater involvement of youth, business and the scientific community in the UN resource management activities, especially within the framework of the recently established UN Secretary-General Panel on Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition.
t the end of the UNECE Resource Management Week, a final document was adopted in which the member States of the Commission approved for publication the UNECE Guidelines on Critical Minerals for a Sustainable Energy Transition and confirmed the mandate of the Group of Young Resource Management Experts to further expand the project based on the published Guidelines with the participation of other UN regional Economic Commissions and participating organizations The UN Secretary-General's Panels on Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition.
For reference: The UNECE Guidelines on Critical Minerals for a Sustainable Energy Transition are published on the official website of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and are available at the link.