The Race to a Greener Future
The second Global Changemakers Workshop took place in Warsaw, Poland, from December 12-15, 2024, hosted by Aspen Institute Central Europe. 19 young leaders from 15 countries gathered over four days to explore one of the most urgent global challenges: building a greener, more secure, and just future with critical minerals. Through a combination of Aspen-style seminars, expert-led policy discussions, and strategic simulations, participants examined the ethical, geopolitical, and economic implications of critical minerals and rare earth metals—key resources at the heart of the green transition.
Workshop Recap: The second edition of the Global Changemakers Workshop fostered nonpartisan dialogue on the challenges and opportunities in building a sustainable future.
Spotlight Conversations: Discussions featured leading experts, including Krzysztof Galos, Polish Undersecretary of State and Chief National Geologist, who provided an in-depth look at Polish and EU policies and conversations around energy, mining, and critical minerals, sparking insightful questions and lively discussion. Dr. Joanna Pandera, Founder of Forum Energii, addressing the challenges and concerns facing the EU in the clean energy transition, while Minister Diego Mesa Puyo, former Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy, shared invaluable insights on the obstacles and challenges leadership in the field of sustainability, energy, and critical minerals.
Seminar Sessions: Participants engaged in two Aspen-style seminars at the beginning of the workshop. The opening seminar explored the philosophical foundations of human interaction with nature, setting the stage for deeper conversations on sustainability, democracy, and responsibility. In the second seminar, participants reflected on the ethical obligations of individuals, corporations, and governments in addressing environmental challenges and resource management.
In-Depth Policy Roundtables: Through four expert-led policy roundtables, participants examined key dimensions of the critical minerals conversation. Minister Diego Mesa Puyo, former Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy, and Timothy Mason, Director of Energy & Climate at the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program, led discussions on geopolitical and security concerns, economic and trade implications, and the social and environmental effects of resource extraction. The final roundtable focused on global climate action, where participants shared their insights and identified strategies for driving sustainable change.
As a key outcome of these discussions, participants received a written summary of their collective insights and proposed solutions to take back to their communities, ensuring that the dialogue extended beyond the workshop. The document captured major themes and proposed pathways, including:
- Reducing geopolitical vulnerabilities through technological innovation and knowledge-sharing, minimizing reliance on dominant global players.
- Enhancing local economic benefits by investing in refinery processing facilities in mineral-rich countries, ensuring economic value remains within local economies.
- Strengthening ethical and sustainable practices by aligning international mining standards with local realities, incentivizing responsible environmental and social policies, and promoting community-led reinvestment of mining revenues.
- Advancing a just green transition by balancing global sustainability goals with economic realities, particularly for resource-dependent countries that face structural limitations.Through these discussions, Changemakers challenged prevailing assumptions, developed fresh approaches to pressing global challenges, and left equipped with actionable ideas to drive change in their communities.Strategic Simulation Activity: A highlight of the workshop was the hands-on simulation at the Central House of Technology, where participants took on stakeholder roles in a real-world crisis scenario related to resource management, sustainability, and geopolitical tensions. The immersive experience challenged them to navigate complex negotiations, policy decisions, and trade-offs in securing a sustainable future.
Cultural & Networking Opportunities: Beyond the discussions, participants engaged in a culinary workshop with Chef Maria Przybyszewska, learning about Polish cuisine while strengthening bonds across cultures. The final evening featured Aspen Institute Central Europe’s Alumni Reception, where attendees connected with Aspen alumni, experts, and partners to expand their professional networks and deepen cross-sector collaboration.
