Issue Accelerating weaponisation of environmental resources under climate change

Summary

The fifth global issue is the accelerating weaponisation of environmental resources as climate change intensifies. As climate threats move closer to a tipping point, competition for green-energy critical minerals and strategic resources such as rare earth elements is expected to intensify. Countries are forecast to tie environmental rules and carbon border adjustment mechanisms more closely to trade policy, sharpening diplomatic and technological rivalry. The report recommends upgrading AI-based climate disaster prediction and environmental modelling. It also proposes AI robots and smart processes to improve critical mineral recycling, and AI-based carbon reduction and energy optimisation to respond to carbon border measures.