Climate
& Natural Resources

Critical Minerals

Stimson brings clarity to the critical minerals landscape through actionable data, cross-regional dialogue, and grounded policy analysis. By elevating the perspectives of mineral-producing countries and affected communities, Stimson helps shape more sustainable, transparent, and geopolitically resilient supply chains.

Experts

Amara Thiha

Nonresident Fellow, China Program

Brian Eyler

Senior Fellow and Director, Southeast Asia and Energy, Water, & Sustainability Programs

Claire Doyle

Research Analyst, Environmental Security Program

Courtney Weatherby

Fellow and Deputy Director, Southeast Asia and Energy, Water, & Sustainability Programs

Elizabeth Threlkeld

Senior Fellow and Director, South Asia Program

Lauren Herzer Risi

Senior Fellow and Director, Environmental Security Program

Madelyn MacMurray

Research Assistant, Environmental Security Program

Mahlet Mesfin

Nonresident Fellow, Environmental Security Program

Michael Cunningham

Senior Fellow

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Recent Publications

Video

Navigating Seabed Mining in the Cook Islands: A Conversation with John Parianos

Nonresident Fellow Mahlet Mesfin sits down with John Parianos of the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority to discuss seabed mining and how the Cook Islands are approaching the many questions that surround it.

Mahlet Mesfin • John Parianos

Explainer

การทำเหมืองแร่โดยไม่ได้รับการควบคุมตามแนวแม่น้ำในแผ่นดินใหญ่ของเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้

ข้อมูลใหม่เผยให้เห็นเหมืองแร่ที่อลหม่านมีมหาศาลไร้การควบคุมตามริมแม่น้ำในเมียนมา, ลาว และกัมพูชา ด้วยเกี่ยวพันต่อสุขภาพ, ความปลอดภัยของชุมชน และระบบนิเวศ

Regan Kwan • Brian Eyler

Data Tool

Mining in Mainland Southeast Asia – River Basins Dashboard

This interactive dashboard visualizes and analyzes the impact of mining operations on rivers in mainland Southeast Asia

Regan Kwan • Brian Eyler

Explainer

Unregulated Mining Along Rivers in Mainland Southeast Asia

New data unveils the huge scale of unregulated mining along rivers in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia with implications for the health and safety of communities and ecosystems.

Regan Kwan • Brian Eyler

Policy Memo

Trump’s Critical Minerals Search in Africa Won’t Tip the Scales Against China

With increasing influence from China and Russia, the U.S. cannot afford to overlook long-term investment in Africa

Mathew Burrows • Benjamin Weise

Commentary

Trump’s New Critical Minerals Commitments: Opportunities and Concerns

Recent U.S. expansion of critical minerals cooperation in ASEAN and the broader Indo-Pacific is a strategic opportunity, not without challenges

Regan Kwan • Courtney Weatherby • Brian Eyler

Field Note

Toxic Rare Earth Mining is Ruining Mekong Tributaries in the Golden Triangle

Community activists and experts in Chiang Rai, Thailand are calling for urgent attention to a looming health and environmental crisis plaguing their rivers and floodplains

Brian Eyler • Regan Kwan

Commentary

Four Reasons Why Proposals to Source Rare Earth Minerals from Myanmar Will Not Succeed

Recent proposals to source rare earths from Myanmar are untenable, reflecting a misalignment between geopolitical ambition and ground-level constraints

Amara Thiha

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Events

Past
Event

Protecting Water in the Mining Rush: Lessons from Africa and Southeast Asia

Online Only

Past
Event

Critical Minerals: The Not-So-Green Side of the Green Transition

In-Person