WSIS+20 Review at the UN in New York: Digital Transformation, Critical Minerals & Just Energy Transition

WSIS+20 Review at the UN in New York: Digital Transformation, Critical Minerals & Just Energy Transition

A Commentary by Daniel Stauffacher

Digital technologies are powerful enablers of climate action: From AI-driven climate monitoring and early-warning systems to smart grids, that integrate renewables at scale. But digitalization is not immaterial. It relies on energy-intensive infrastructure and on critical transition minerals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and rare earths.

At the same time, the clean energy transition itself is driving surging global demand for critical minerals. Batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, and digital hardware all depend on specialized materials. Demand is expected to multiply over the coming decades—raising risks of supply bottlenecks, price volatility, geopolitical tensions, and particularly for vulnerable indigenous people.

This interdependence is now formally recognized at the multilateral level. The WSIS Process+20 Review, and the related UN Resolution A/RES/79/277 (https://lnkd.in/ekWNhK5J) adopted by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025, explicitly addresses the environmental footprint of Digital Technologies (see paras. 42–47 of the Resolution). Crucially, paragraph 44 recognizes the need for the sustainable and responsible use of critical mineral resources underpinning digital infrastructure and devices.

Life-cycle assessments make the stakes clear: without robust human rights and indigenous people’s rights safeguards regarding mining and processing, improved recycling and end-of-life management—the global rush for minerals risks undermining the very sustainability goals that digital and energy transitions aim to achieve.

Together with partners, such as Global Witness Resource Justice Network, SIRGE Coalition, Natural Resource Governance Institute, Power Shift Africa , ICT4peace Foundation and the Earth Council – as well as many Governments – advocated an agreement on responsible transition minerals at COP30 Brazil. Consensus was not reached in Belem.

On the other hand, and fortunately, the WSIS Process+20 outcome at the United Nations in New York in December 2025 provided a strong new multilateral and diplomatic reference point—and a renewed opportunity to advance progress at COP31 in hashtag#Turkey in 2026, in this regard.

Digital transformation must accelerate the energy transition, but without shifting environmental and social costs to vulnerable communities and ecosystems.

Daniel Stauffacher Former Swiss Ambassador for WSIS Geneva 2003, Founder of ICT4Peace member of The Earth Council

28 December 2025

Emily Iona Stewart Angela Asuncion Bryan Bixcul Antonio Hill and Gabriela Flores Kudakwashe Manjonjo Anne-Marie Buzatu Adrien ABECASSIS Jorge Cancio Melia Thomas Schneider Bernard Maissen Justin Vaïsse Maëlle Lécureuil Clémence Contensou Brigitte Menzi Felix Wertli Tim Enderlin

International Telecommunication Union United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Federal Office of Communications OFCOM Federal Office for the Environment FOEN