The team led by Professor Wei Yiming from the Beijing Laboratory of Carbon Neutrality System Engineering at the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) has, for the first time internationally, proposed an energy low-carbon transition plan that takes into account emissions reduction, mineral resource security, and regional equity.

This provides a scientific basis for the global coordination of climate targets and mineral resource security under resource constraints. The research article, titled Navigating energy transition solutions for climate targets with minerals constraint, was published in the journal Nature Climate Change on Aug 8, 2025.

The paper was selected as a research highlight by Nature Climate Change. After its online publication, it has been reported by mainstream media both domestically and internationally. This marks the 10th research article published by Professor Wei's team in a Nature sub-journal since 2017.

With the intensified climate warming, there is an urgent need to accelerate the transition of energy systems. Although many integrated assessment models have proposed numerous emission reduction pathways for the 1.5°C and 2°C temperature control targets, these pathways involve various low-carbon technologies, which in turn are highly dependent on a range of critical mineral resources. There are complex interconnections between climate targets, technology deployment, and mineral resource demand, which have not yet been systematically studied and revealed, posing significant challenges to the decision-making process for current transition pathways.

To fill the aforementioned research gap, Professor Wei and his team have independently designed and developed the Global Resource Evaluation of Abatement Technologies model (GREAT) based on their previously developed global climate change integrated assessment model (C3IAM).

The study emphasizes that achieving deep decarbonization relies not only on technological innovation but also on a diversified energy technology portfolio, enhanced recycling and material substitution, deepened global trade cooperation, and maintaining moderate economic growth. These strategies are essential to effectively address the systemic challenges posed by constraints on critical minerals and to ensure the successful achievement of climate targets.

Forecast of mineral resource shortages under 80 technological advancement scenarios globally by 2100

Evaluation results of the synergy between mineral resource security and climate targets across 557 mitigation pathways

Paper details: Wei, YM., Liu, LC., Kang, JN…. Yu, BY., et al. Navigating energy transition solutions for climate targets with minerals constraint. Nat. Clim. Chang. 15, 833–841 (2025).