Consultant – UNEP Production and Consumption Unit – Mining and Extractives

Result of ServiceAn effective consultant will deliver estimates on climate and broader environmental impacts of the selected metals, global shares and temporal trends in climate and biodiversity impacts of mining (particularly those arising from land use changes due to mining). The consultant will also evaluate the value added and workforce statistics associated with the mining of the selected metals, the impacts of metals recycling, and hotspots of biodiversity loss induced by mining, and will ultimately deliver concise metals-specific factsheets to provide sustainable decision support for industry and policy. Output expectations: • 6 metals-specific factsheets, containing: o Environmental impacts:  global shares and temporal trends (1995 to 2022) in climate impacts, biodiversity loss (land use) and health impacts (from particulate-matter emissions) and particulate matter as a proxy for pollution of mining and processing (upstream),  hotspots of biodiversity loss induced by mining impacts; o Economic and trade aspects:  value added at the upstream and workforce statistics associated with the mining and processing of the selected metals,  trade flows with a regional breakdown,  downstream uses of metal-specific provisioning systems (e.g. built environment, electronics, transportation, energy); o Impacts of a circular economy:  the impacts of metals recycling,  impacts of material efficiency for those metals individually covered in the GRO 2024 database; o For the following 6 metal categories:  Iron & Steel,  Copper,  Aluminum,  Precious Metals,  Lead, Zinc and Tin,  Other Non-Ferrous metals. • Provision of access to and clear documentation of the raw data used for conducting the quantitative analyses. Work LocationRemote Expected duration3 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its Industry and Economy Division provides solutions to decision-makers and helps change the business environment by offering platforms for multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation, innovative policy options, pilot projects and creative market mechanisms to improve the quality of the environment and the well-being of citizens. It promotes sustainable patterns of consumption and production, makes efficient use of natural resources, ensures safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. This opportunity is located within the Consumption and Production Unit at UNEP. The Unit promotes Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in businesses worldwide, across several industrial sectors. It also supports and coordinates the Division and organization’s work on the agenda of circularity. More specifically the work of the Division with stakeholders from the mining sector has been covering the following priority areas: 1. Environmental Governance of extractives – Regulations / Standards: Enhance policy convening and outreach, stakeholder and capacity-building to promote better environmental governance and sustainable development goals implementation; 2. Science to Policy – Increasing knowledge and evidence on environmental impacts: provide policy-makers and stakeholders with impartial assessments, knowledge and science on environmental threats and impacts of the extractive industries; and 3. Circular Economy – Sustainable Value Chain – Innovation: Work with companies and international initiatives to encourage adoption of sustainable practices along the value chain and enhance resource efficiency. The Consumption and Production Unit is leading UNEP’s work on extractive industries, including the implementation of UNEA Resolutions on environmental aspects of minerals and metals management, the elaboration of policy documents on the issue of energy transition minerals and the implementation of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management. In this context, the UNEP Consumption and Production Unit is interested in hiring a consultant to assess the climate and broader environmental impacts of mining and processing critical metals essential for global industries. The consultancy will focus on analyzing the impacts of iron and steel, copper, aluminium, precious metals (gold, silver, and platinum group metals), lead, zinc, tin, and other non-ferrous metals, with an emphasis on (i) environmental impacts, specifically: global shares and temporal trends in climate impacts, biodiversity loss, health impacts (including from particulate matter), and hotspots of biodiversity loss induced by mining, (ii) economic and trade aspects, including value added at the upstream and workforce statistics associated with the mining and processing of the selected metals, as well as trade flows and downstream uses of metal-specific provisioning systems, and (iii) environmental impacts of enhanced circularity, including impacts of metals recycling and impacts of material efficiency for metals individually covered in the Global Resources Outlook 2024 database, and their associated impact of decreasing demand for primary resources. A consultant with expertise in sustainability assessment and global supply chain analysis in the context of environmental impact assessment, with a focus on industries such as minerals and metals, buildings and construction, and plastics is thus needed to support the UNEP Consumption and Production Unit in conducting this assessment. Qualifications/special skills• Advanced university degree (PhD or equivalent) in environmental sciences, sustainability assessment, or a related field is required, with a focus on global supply chains and environmental impact analysis. A graduate level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • At least 7-8 years of experience in the field of environmental and sustainability assessment, with a focus on global supply chain analysis, particularly in metals, buildings & construction, and plastics industries is essential. Experience of working with international organizations and government institutions is an asset. • Demonstrated expertise in sustainability assessment, supply chain analysis, life-cycle assessment, earth observation data, pollutant dynamics, or environmental impact assessment, including on climate and biodiversity effects. • Excellent knowledge of climate and biodiversity impacts, circular economy strategies, trade-offs, and supply chain analysis, including of the minerals and metals, building material, and plastic industries. • Demonstrated experience and skills in facilitating stakeholder/working group consultations. • Strong international experience, with case studies spanning global and national scales, publications providing actionable insights for sustainable development, and providing sustainable decision support for industry and policy. Please describe your expertise in sustainability assessment, supply chain analysis, life-cycle assessment, earth observation data, pollutant dynamics, or environmental impact assessment, including on climate and biodiversity effects. Publications in the field of materials' supply chains is desirable. Languages• Excellent communication and writing skills, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications or reports for international organizations. • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.