The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published a report concluding that without substantial government action, there will be a shortage of key raw materials for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, battery-based energy storage, and wind turbines. The report focuses on cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements. The IEA forecasts an overall quadrupling in demand for these and related minerals by 2040. Lithium is set to experience the fastest growth in demand, with a 40-fold increase by 2040. Without government intervention, these raw materials will experience price volatility, geopolitical influence, and supply disruptions that could hamper efforts to tackle climate change, the IEA states. The agency recommends six steps that policy makers should take to prevent raw material bottlenecks, including long-term commitments for emission reduction to give suppliers the confidence to invest in manufacturing capacity. Other steps are government promotion of new technology and the scale-up of recycling, the IEA says.
Shirika la Kimataifa la Nishati (IEA) limesema kuwa bila hatua za serikali, kutakuwa na uhaba wa vifaa muhimu vya teknolojia za nishati safi kama vile magari ya umeme, kuhifadhi nishati ya betri na turbine za upepo. Ripoti hiyo inakazia cobalt, shaba, lithiamu, nikeli, na elementi za dunia nadra. IEA inatarajia kuongezeka kwa mahitaji ya madini hayo na mengine yanayohusiana na madini hayo kufikia mwaka 2040. Lithium inatarajiwa kuwa na ongezeko kubwa zaidi la mahitaji ya mafuta ya umeme, na kuongezeka mara 40 ifikapo mwaka 2040. """Bila uingiliaji wa serikali, malighafi hizi zitapata kutofautiana kwa bei, ushawishi wa kijiografia na usumbufu wa usambazaji ambao unaweza kuzuia juhudi za kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa,"" IEA inasema." "Kama ilivyoelezwa, ""Mafunzo sita ambayo watengenezaji wa sera wanapaswa kuchukua ili kuzuia vizuizi vya malighafi, pamoja na ahadi za muda mrefu za kupunguza uzalishaji ili kuwapa wauzaji ujasiri wa kuwekeza katika uwezo wa utengenezaji.""" Hatua nyingine ni kukuza teknolojia mpya na kuongeza kiwango cha kuchakata, IEA inasema.