INSTITUTE for PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
INSTITUT DE DIPLOMATIE PUBLIQUE | INSTITUTO DE DIPLOMACIA PUBLICA | सार्वजनिक कूटनीति संस्थान | 公共外交研究所 | معهد الدبلوماسية العامة
Strengthening the diplomatic power of civil society actors and academia.
Resources Diplomacy
Breaking News:
Resources diplomacy is negotiating and managing access to, control over, and trade of critical raw materials and rare earth elements.
It may blend cooperative, coercive, and binding components, as governments ( or corporations) combine bargaining, leverage, and deals to maintain access to critical resources.
Resource diplomacy represents far more than the simple negotiation of resource procurement. These diplomatic efforts aim to address fundamental vulnerabilities that extend beyond traditional economic concerns, encompassing issues of technological sovereignty and national security during geopolitical tensions.
Read more → How Geopolitical Tensions Shape Critical Minerals Diplomacy
Environmental and social considerations are increasingly becoming diplomatic issues, raising important questions about the role of civil society and other stakeholders.
For public diplomacy practitioners, this shift calls for a proactive and adaptive approach—one that not only engages civil society and diverse stakeholders but also embeds sustainability principles within institutional practices and business models.
In practice, this means embracing multi-actor collaboration that includes NGOs, private sector leaders, academia, and local communities. Integrating sustainability into diplomatic communication and institutional operations—such as adopting ethical procurement policies, reducing carbon footprints, and supporting community-based projects—helps align diplomacy with global sustainability goals, notably the UN 2030 Agenda.
The Global Scale of the Resource Crisis: Key Facts and Figures
106000000
Today, 106.6 billion tonnes of natural resources are extracted globally every year, compared with approximately 30 billion tonnes in 1970.
-
6 times- The amount of material resources consumed per capita in high-income countries compared with low-income countries.
-
Inequality in access to essential resources
-
2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services
86 %
Concentration of control over strategic resources
86%
Average share of the world's processing of key energy-transition minerals accounted for by the three largest producing countries in 2024.
91%- China's share of global refined production of magnet rare earth elements in 2024.
Read more facts- Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025
Diplomatic gaps
Underrepresented stakeholders are often excluded not by the absence of formal representation, but by their lack of effective influence.
-
Representational: No seat at the negotiating table.
-
Institutional: Limited access to diplomatic and multilateral mechanisms.
-
Economic: Unequal distribution of resource-related benefits.
-
Knowledge: Local expertise and scientific contributions overlooked.
-
Political: Societal interests subordinated to geopolitical and commercial priorities.
-
Procedural: Consultations without meaningful influence over decisions.
Our Work
-
Develop civil society-led diplomatic responses to resource competition: Apply geopolitical, economic and diplomatic frameworks to develop practical recommendations that help stakeholders navigate an increasingly contested global resource landscape.
Integrating sustainability principles into business models
Public diplomacy initiatives can support the exchange of best practices between civil society and stakeholders on green innovation, circular economy models, and responsible resource management.
By leveraging diplomacy’s growing emphasis on sustainability, public diplomacy practitioners can help businesses transform this global shift into a strategic advantage. Through dialogue, partnership, and advocacy, they can assist industries in adapting their business models to align with emerging sustainability standards and geopolitical expectations. In doing so, public diplomacy not only facilitates the transition toward more responsible and resilient economic practices but also helps position corporate actors strategically for the transformations shaping the global landscape.
