Challenge accepted: circular solutions to green energy’s material demands
Check out the session programme and watch the recording on the screen above. In case your browser doesn’t show the embedded video, you can also watch the session on our Youtube channel.
It is an inconvenient truth that the green energy revolution requires exponentially more minerals and metals. Circularity can turn this challenge into an opportunity.
As the world decarbonises and populations and incomes grow, there will be an exponential increase in demand for metals and minerals. This session will feature a frank conversation on the challenges this poses for industries and policymakers alike, as they pursue environmental, social and economic objectives simultaneously. The session demonstrates how circular economy strategies can provide high value and high impact solutions along mineral supply chains.
Introduction
Peter Munch-Madsen
Senior Advisor
Nordic Innovation
Peter is a political scientist with 20 years’ experience in global public affairs, geopolitics and business development from pharma, energy and financial services in Brussels, Copenhagen and Oslo.
Green energy generation challenge: Accessing secure and responsibly sourced minerals supplies for solar and energy systems
Alan Young
Director
Materials Efficiency Research Group
Since 1990, Alan has worked as a facilitator and strategist for a wide range of conservation groups, Indigenous organisations, communities, progressive companies and governments across Canada and the world. His primary focus has been on designing and helping to implement social and environmental sustainability and leadership strategies. His work has included projects throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and the Nordic region. Alan has expertise in cross-sector collaboration design and facilitation, non-profit organisational resilience, ethical practices certification programs in the forestry and mining sectors, large-scale conservation strategy development, as well as various legislative reform processes in the extractive sectors. He was a founding member of the Circular Economy Leadership Canada and was as a member of Council of Canadian Academy's Expert Panel on Circular Economy. He served as chair of the International Institute for Sustainable Development from 2015-2021 and was chair of the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada.
Ashleigh Morris is a systems strategist on a mission to catalyse the global transition to a circular economy. She has been recognised as a Top 100 Global Corporate Social Responsibility Influential Leader, a Prime Ministers Scholar, an Australian ASEAN Emerging Leader, Brisbane’s Young Business Person of the Year 2020, and an invitee to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. Ashleigh holds advisory roles with industry bodies for mining, textiles and renewable fuels and was recently appointed to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Committee. She harnesses her fiery belief in a better world to spark change where its impact matters most.
Anna Poberezhna is the founder of ClearHub, a sustainable resources and infrastructure development company. She has also co-developed three ventures in supply chain management, finance and metals trading in five years. Poberezhna has extensive experience in mining, minerals and water management, as well as technology such as blockchain. She is an author, public speaker and the first Ukrainian woman recognised as a digital tech talent by the UK government.
Senior Specialist
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Sari Tasa carries out the programmes and tasks from the governmental strategic action plans concerning the bioeconomy, circular economy and climate actions. These tasks focus on solving global problems with Finnish innovations in sustainable growth, climate actions and carbon neutrality. One task includes working with Finnish mining industry stakeholders to solve issues and possibilities related to the circular economy.
Strategic priorities for action: Next steps for policy, research and markets
Alan Young
Director
Materials Efficiency Research Group
Since 1990, Alan has worked as a facilitator and strategist for a wide range of conservation groups, Indigenous organisations, communities, progressive companies and governments across Canada and the world. His primary focus has been on designing and helping to implement social and environmental sustainability and leadership strategies. His work has included projects throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and the Nordic region. Alan has expertise in cross-sector collaboration design and facilitation, non-profit organisational resilience, ethical practices certification programs in the forestry and mining sectors, large-scale conservation strategy development, as well as various legislative reform processes in the extractive sectors. He was a founding member of the Circular Economy Leadership Canada and was as a member of Council of Canadian Academy's Expert Panel on Circular Economy. He served as chair of the International Institute for Sustainable Development from 2015-2021 and was chair of the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada.
At the UNFCCC youth constituency Ben Santhouse-James works with a broad range of non-profits and youth climate organisations to promote systems thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to solving the climate crisis. In his day job, he works as a management consultant across sustainable finance and climate tech. He has previous experience from investing in renewables and the circular economy. Ben holds an MSc in energy systems from the University of Oxford, where his research focused on carbon removals, and a BSc in earth science from Imperial College London.
Patience is a mining executive and thought leader with over two decades of experience in the mining industry. Her company provides insights in the critical minerals and strategies that support the transition to a net-zero economy. Her research and thought leadership have significantly contributed to the understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the mining industry in the context of circularity. She is an IWF Fellow, a global speaker, and has authored and published in over 10 international peer-reviewed journals. She was named one of the most influential women in mining. Patience holds a PhD in Mineral Processing from UNISA Australia and an AMP from INSEAD.
Senior Director, Research
Smart Prosperity Institute
Geoff McCarney is professor of environment and development in the School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa, where he also serves as associate director (Research) for the university’s interdisciplinary Institute of Environment, and senior director (Research) for the Smart Prosperity Institute. Geoff’s research and expertise focus on the interface of climate change, the circular economy and natural resource development. With the Smart Prosperity Institute, he also has extensive experience building multi-sector partnerships across Canada and internationally to develop and communicate policy-oriented research on the environment and economy. Geoff holds a PhD in sustainable development with a focus on economics and climate science from Columbia University.
Anna Poberezhna is the founder of ClearHub, a sustainable resources and infrastructure development company. She has also co-developed three ventures in supply chain management, finance and metals trading in five years. Poberezhna has extensive experience in mining, minerals and water management, as well as technology such as blockchain. She is an author, public speaker and the first Ukrainian woman recognised as a digital tech talent by the UK government.
Senior Director, Research
Smart Prosperity Institute
Geoff McCarney is professor of environment and development in the School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa, where he also serves as associate director (Research) for the university’s interdisciplinary Institute of Environment, and senior director (Research) for the Smart Prosperity Institute. Geoff’s research and expertise focus on the interface of climate change, the circular economy and natural resource development. With the Smart Prosperity Institute, he also has extensive experience building multi-sector partnerships across Canada and internationally to develop and communicate policy-oriented research on the environment and economy. Geoff holds a PhD in sustainable development with a focus on economics and climate science from Columbia University.
Ashleigh Morris is a systems strategist on a mission to catalyse the global transition to a circular economy. She has been recognised as a Top 100 Global Corporate Social Responsibility Influential Leader, a Prime Ministers Scholar, an Australian ASEAN Emerging Leader, Brisbane’s Young Business Person of the Year 2020, and an invitee to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. Ashleigh holds advisory roles with industry bodies for mining, textiles and renewable fuels and was recently appointed to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Committee. She harnesses her fiery belief in a better world to spark change where its impact matters most.
Patience is a mining executive and thought leader with over two decades of experience in the mining industry. Her company provides insights in the critical minerals and strategies that support the transition to a net-zero economy. Her research and thought leadership have significantly contributed to the understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the mining industry in the context of circularity. She is an IWF Fellow, a global speaker, and has authored and published in over 10 international peer-reviewed journals. She was named one of the most influential women in mining. Patience holds a PhD in Mineral Processing from UNISA Australia and an AMP from INSEAD.
Peter is a political scientist with 20 years’ experience in global public affairs, geopolitics and business development from pharma, energy and financial services in Brussels, Copenhagen and Oslo.
At the UNFCCC youth constituency Ben Santhouse-James works with a broad range of non-profits and youth climate organisations to promote systems thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to solving the climate crisis. In his day job, he works as a management consultant across sustainable finance and climate tech. He has previous experience from investing in renewables and the circular economy. Ben holds an MSc in energy systems from the University of Oxford, where his research focused on carbon removals, and a BSc in earth science from Imperial College London.
Senior Specialist
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Sari Tasa carries out the programmes and tasks from the governmental strategic action plans concerning the bioeconomy, circular economy and climate actions. These tasks focus on solving global problems with Finnish innovations in sustainable growth, climate actions and carbon neutrality. One task includes working with Finnish mining industry stakeholders to solve issues and possibilities related to the circular economy.
Since 1990, Alan has worked as a facilitator and strategist for a wide range of conservation groups, Indigenous organisations, communities, progressive companies and governments across Canada and the world. His primary focus has been on designing and helping to implement social and environmental sustainability and leadership strategies. His work has included projects throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and the Nordic region. Alan has expertise in cross-sector collaboration design and facilitation, non-profit organisational resilience, ethical practices certification programs in the forestry and mining sectors, large-scale conservation strategy development, as well as various legislative reform processes in the extractive sectors. He was a founding member of the Circular Economy Leadership Canada and was as a member of Council of Canadian Academy's Expert Panel on Circular Economy. He served as chair of the International Institute for Sustainable Development from 2015-2021 and was chair of the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada.
