This project, conducted by a 2025 Dow Sustainability Fellows team in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, aimed to develop a Critical Minerals Tool Kit to address growing global demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements. This demand has heightened focus on domestic extraction in the U.S., including on private and working lands. The toolkit integrates a GIS map highlighting mineral deposits relative to private, Tribal, and sensitive lands; an ArcGIS StoryMap detailing historical and current mining impacts; and five policy fact sheets comparing U.S. regulations to international best practices. These resources support advocacy for responsible mineral development while balancing energy transition needs with environmental protection, Indigenous rights, and worker safety.

This report summarizes the team’s work. The policy fact sheets are included at the end of the report.