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The 50th summit of the Group of Seven (G7) has closed with weak and timid signals, amid support for Ukraine, negligible advances on climate and the environment, acknowledging the weight of IA on security and the economy.

May 24 marked the conclusion of Circularity2024, the three-day U.S. circular economy event hosted by GreenBiz, the sustainability-related events and media giant. In the background, Chicago, America's third largest city and the cradle of Taylorist capitalism that gave birth to the futures market and the assembly line.

In the words of the European Commission, "Energy transition is a transition of materials." There is no room for delusion in this matter. To electrify, digitalize, and decarbonize the economy, raw materials are a necessity, particularly minerals and metals. These resources, when of strategic economic importance and concurrently characterized by a high supply risk, are classified as Critical Raw Materials (CRMs).

As technology advances, waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is steadily increasing, especially small items. Often abandoned in cupboards and drawers, they are a valuable source of raw materials. Systematically collecting and recycling them is important both ecologically and economically: they contain precious metals, extracting which requires complex processing, and other materials that fall in the critical raw materials category. Improving the collection of this waste is therefore very important for the circular economy.

At the core of Africa's sustainable development challenge lies a multifaceted puzzle, where the crucial pieces of water, energy, and food deeply intertwine. These elements are the linchpin of progress and prosperity, as well as the backbone of sustainable and climate-resilient communities.