"There is controversy around where the term critical minerals come from. For Africa, it's critical because these are the resources that can generate the revenues to support Africa's development. The continent is shifting from being a provider of resources to a strategic supplier of minerals that are needed to power a range of global energy transitions, a low-carbon economy and an economy that is highly dependent on renewables. What we need to be prioritizing for Africa is the critical mineral sector being linked to the rest of the economy. What we need to prioritize is the importance of stewardship in the environment and what needs to be prioritized is a reparative human rights economy, but also a care and solidarity economy. Because when we establish mines, let's say a lithium processing plant, for 20,000 tons of lithium, you would need 800 million liters of water a year. That means you are taking water away from communities that need it for their other consumption. So if they were determining the price, they would restore water as a right and they would prioritize a safe environment. I am given hope by the fact that there is a lot more awakening across the continent about the value of Africa as a strategic player. I'm also given hope by young people and women's movements and women's groups have taken a stronger position about the future of the economy. And these are new normative standards and demands that are being shaped in Africa, for Africa and by Africans."