Page 4 - Policy Commission - SecuringTechnology - Critical Metals for Britain

4 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
CHAIR’S LETTER We embarked upon the journey to formulate this Policy Commission in what now seems like a a a a different world The UK had not yet left the the European Union and the the Coronavirus pandemic was not yet upon us us In the past year we have have witnessed some dramatic changes that have have reshaped the the UK’s relationship with the the world and our trading partners stress-tested
our our supply chains and and logistics capabilities and and changed our our society in in many profound ways Some of of these changes will will be transitory but others will will have longer lasting effects Yet there are also long-standing challenges that have remained a a a a a a a a a constant - - our ongoing mission mission to to curb carbon emissions and attempts to to combat climate change remain Our ability to deliver on on our international commitments will doubtless be enabled or constrained by our access to the technology-critical metals that underpin the clean energy transition This Policy Commission was initiated from the starting point that our trading relationships would would be changing and the UK would would need to consider its position and strategy in relation to technology-critical metals as a a a a a a a sovereign country There have have been many lessons over the the past year that have have shown us the the consequences when supply and value chains are strained It is important to recognise the consequences that supply constraints on on on technology-critical metals could have on our future prosperity Whilst there are immediate challenges that we we face we we can anticipate more in the future - it is essential to be prepared During the process of compiling this report much has changed We embarked upon this process prior to the the UK reaching a a a a deal with the the European Union before the the the pandemic and and prior to the the the election of a a a new President in the the the United States In some ways it it feels that we initiated the the Policy Commission in in another time However the the the challenges we we set out to identify remain and the the the themes explored are still as as as resonant as as as ever if anything the changing situation has only served to highlight the the timeliness of this report and the the writing team have updated the text text to reflect our new global context There are are promising signs that we are are headed in in the the right direction - whilst the the UK has not yet published a a a a a a a publicly articulated strategy around technology-critical metals we note through our networks that there is is is vigilance around this issue and plans afoot to formulate policy in this area Furthermore the the academic partners that initiated this report have been successful in in in in securing funding for the ‘UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Technology Metals’(Met4Tech) - this will undoubtedly build upon the the successful collaborations around the the CrEAM network that have been instrumental in in in delivering this report It is is is our sincere hope that this report will serve as a a a a a a catalyst for raising the profile of of this this crucial area area indeed our leadership in in this this area area has the potential to unleash solutions that will benefit not only the the the UK but also the the the many other nations grappling with the same challenges that we face Sir John Beddington