Presentation short abstract

Drawing on empirical findings from debates on EU's raw materials policy, this paper critically explores how narratives of climate and supply security intersect. It discusses the potential for productive dialogue from a critical political ecology perspective.

Presentation long abstract

Demand for raw materials such as lithium, copper, and rare earths has surged due to decarbonization efforts and a renewed focus on geopolitical concerns. In response, the European Union adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) in 2024. Policymakers presented the CRMA as essential for security and strategic autonomy. However, critics warn that the CRMA may hinder climate neutrality and democratic resilience by marginalizing resource justice perspectives, particularly regarding new domestic mining projects. This study uses a discursive analytical approach to examine how dominant and marginalized narratives interact in ongoing policy debates. Using qualitative interviews, policy documents, and participatory observation, the analysis reveals how security- and competitiveness-oriented narratives consolidate authority through discursive co-optation and normative appeals to security. Conversely, perspectives centered on sufficiency, circularity, and participatory governance remain confined to broad, sometimes vague claims and struggle to challenge oversimplified framings of climate security. The findings illustrate the challenges faced by those pushing for alternative perspectives: engaging with dominant narratives can create opportunities but also risks perpetuating extractivist and securitized agendas. The paper reflects on the potential and limits of more generative dialogue between narrative positions in EU raw material governance, drawing on critical political ecology. By bridging empirical insights with broader conceptual reflection, the study contributes to our understanding of how (counter-)narratives emerge, adapt, and are constrained within EU raw material policy. More broadly, the study considers how political ecology scholarship might navigate the ethical challenges of engaging with hegemonic security discourses during periods of accelerating militarization and polycrisis.