Road to Belém | Seminar Session Critical Minerals: Australia–EU Collaboration for the Green Transition

This webinar explored how bilateral partnerships—grounded in robust social licensing, ESG norms, and evolving legal frameworks—can navigate tightening geoeconomic constraints (such as Chinese export controls, investment screening and strategic competition) to deliver resilient, development-friendly supply. 

Guiding questions

• Partnership design – How can offtake agreements, joint ventures and R&D cooperation translate EU demand signals into Australian upstream and mid-stream investment—especially in ways that embed strong social and legal foundations?

• Geoeconomic headwinds – What effects will Chinese export controls, outbound-investment barriers and strategic-competition dynamics have on Australia–EU critical-mineral projects?

• UNFCCC credibility – How can an Australia–EU minerals corridor showcase best-practice ESG, legal licensing models and circular-economy standards, strengthening both partners’ positions at COP30?

Speakers

• Göran Roos — Adjunct Professor, Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources (ISER), University of Adelaide

• Nathan Gray — Senior Fellow, Institute for International Trade (IIT), University of Adelaide

• Alexandra Wawryk — Senior Lecturer, Adelaide Law School, University of Adelaide

Moderator

• Peter Draper — Executive Director, Institute for International Trade (IIT), University of Adelaide

MC

• Graham Nathan — Director, Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources (ISER), University of Adelaide

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.