A Review of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Risk Management for Raw Materials in Low-Carbon Energy Systems

The global shift to low-carbon energy systems has significantly increased demand for critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and copper. These materials are essential for renewable technologies and energy storage. However, their extraction and processing produce sig...

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Main Authors: Hongbo Sun, Xinting Zhang, Cuicui Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3401
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author Hongbo Sun
Xinting Zhang
Cuicui Luo
author_facet Hongbo Sun
Xinting Zhang
Cuicui Luo
author_sort Hongbo Sun
collection DOAJ
description The global shift to low-carbon energy systems has significantly increased demand for critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and copper. These materials are essential for renewable technologies and energy storage. However, their extraction and processing produce significant carbon emissions and face challenges from supply chain vulnerabilities and price volatility. This review examines the complex relationship between carbon pricing mechanisms—such as carbon markets and taxes—and raw material markets. It explores the strategic importance of these materials, recent policy developments, and the transmission of carbon pricing impacts through supply chains. The review also analyzes the systemic risks created by carbon pricing, including regulatory uncertainty, market volatility, and geopolitical tensions. We then discuss financial tools and corporate strategies for managing these risks, such as carbon-linked derivatives and supply chain diversification. Finally, this review identifies key challenges and suggests future research to improve the resilience and sustainability of raw material supply chains. Here, resilience is defined as the capacity to adapt to carbon pricing volatility, geopolitical disruptions, and regulatory shocks, while maintaining operations. The paper concludes that coordinated policies and flexible risk management are urgently needed to support a reliable and sustainable energy transition.
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spelling doaj-art-2bed7dc04b4f429eacd22ba6f24897952025-08-20T03:28:28ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011813340110.3390/en18133401A Review of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Risk Management for Raw Materials in Low-Carbon Energy SystemsHongbo Sun0Xinting Zhang1Cuicui Luo2School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaThe global shift to low-carbon energy systems has significantly increased demand for critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and copper. These materials are essential for renewable technologies and energy storage. However, their extraction and processing produce significant carbon emissions and face challenges from supply chain vulnerabilities and price volatility. This review examines the complex relationship between carbon pricing mechanisms—such as carbon markets and taxes—and raw material markets. It explores the strategic importance of these materials, recent policy developments, and the transmission of carbon pricing impacts through supply chains. The review also analyzes the systemic risks created by carbon pricing, including regulatory uncertainty, market volatility, and geopolitical tensions. We then discuss financial tools and corporate strategies for managing these risks, such as carbon-linked derivatives and supply chain diversification. Finally, this review identifies key challenges and suggests future research to improve the resilience and sustainability of raw material supply chains. Here, resilience is defined as the capacity to adapt to carbon pricing volatility, geopolitical disruptions, and regulatory shocks, while maintaining operations. The paper concludes that coordinated policies and flexible risk management are urgently needed to support a reliable and sustainable energy transition.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3401carbon pricinglow-carbon energy systemsraw materialssupply chainrisk management
spellingShingle Hongbo Sun
Xinting Zhang
Cuicui Luo
A Review of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Risk Management for Raw Materials in Low-Carbon Energy Systems
Energies
carbon pricing
low-carbon energy systems
raw materials
supply chain
risk management
title A Review of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Risk Management for Raw Materials in Low-Carbon Energy Systems
title_full A Review of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Risk Management for Raw Materials in Low-Carbon Energy Systems
title_fullStr A Review of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Risk Management for Raw Materials in Low-Carbon Energy Systems
title_full_unstemmed A Review of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Risk Management for Raw Materials in Low-Carbon Energy Systems
title_short A Review of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Risk Management for Raw Materials in Low-Carbon Energy Systems
title_sort review of carbon pricing mechanisms and risk management for raw materials in low carbon energy systems
topic carbon pricing
low-carbon energy systems
raw materials
supply chain
risk management
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3401
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