On 16 October 2025, the Graduate School of Chemistry hosted a scientific day devoted to critical and strategic elements, opened by Isabelle Demachy (VP for Academic Affairs) and Damien Prim (Director, GS Chemistry). The event gathered several Paris-Saclay research teams to address environmental, economic, technological, and geopolitical dimensions of resource sustainability in the context of accelerating transitions.

During the opening session, Patrick Schembri (UVSQ-CEARC / Université Paris-Saclay) delivered a talk entitled “Critical elements for current transitions: what are the challenges?”, focusing on vulnerabilities associated with critical materials in the energy and digital transitions. The session also featured Jean-Claude Dutay (CEA-CNRS-LSCE), who presented the ANR PREVENT research on the biological impacts of major ocean pollutants (mercury, microplastics, lithium), offering complementary insights into environmental criticalities.

Patrick Schembri’s talk highlighted:

• the strategic dependence of low-carbon technologies on key metals (lithium, cobalt, copper, rare earth elements);
• the geopolitical and economic risks associated with highly concentrated supply chains;
• the environmental pressures generated by extractive activities;
• key mitigation pathways, including advanced recycling, material sobriety, technological substitution, and industrial policies (CRMA, IRA).

This contribution aligns with CEARC research on resilience, resource governance, and the systemic analysis of sustainability transitions.