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Australia has signed up as a founding member of the Canada-led sustainable critical minerals coalition.
Launched on the sidelines of the United Nations biodiversity conference COP15 in Montreal, the international grouping has pledged to meet the "highest" environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards for mining and processing critical minerals.
As advanced economies try to break China's stranglehold on supply, other signatories to the pact include the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States.
Australia has abundant reserves of the minerals needed for solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries - essential equipment for decarbonising industries and communities and meeting emissions reduction pledges.
The Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King, said it was important those minerals are developed to high ESG standards.
"Australia is strongly committed to sustainability and the highest environmental and social governance standards," Ms King said.
"We believe the development of new low-emissions technologies provides a great opportunity to promote those ESG standards across the world."
A more resource-intensive global economy will require more lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt and other energy transition materials, but Australia faces significant competition for the capital needed.
Better human rights and environmental standards than China, Africa and South America are part of the pitch.
Members of the group have committed to a range of voluntary practices, including a "nature-forward approach" to prevent biodiversity loss, protect species at risk and support nature protection.
Signatories say more reuse and recycling of critical minerals, developing a so-called "circular economy", may reduce the number of new mines to supply the minerals needed.
Adopting new requirements for reclamation and remediation when mines close aims to restore ecosystems, although there is debate about returning a site to a "natural state" some 50 or 100 years after operations began.
Helping to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and getting the mining industry to net zero by 2050 is key to the pact.
Signatories also pledged to support local and indigenous communities, and to share the benefits of mining.
