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SAN FRANCISCO – During San Francisco Climate Week, California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin brought together state of California climate officials, along with international dignitaries and external partners for the 2nd Annual California-Africa Climate and Economic Forum (CACEF) at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

The race to secure critical minerals is well underway — but mining is only the beginning. The real prize, and the real bottleneck, lies in what happens next: processing, refining, and beneficiation. A panel of global experts convened recently by the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South, in partnership with Duke University's Nicholas Institute and Sustainable Energy for All, made one thing clear: the Global South cannot afford to keep exporting raw materials and importing finished products. The question is how to change that — and fast.

Two- and three-wheel vehicles, the hidden workhorses of private travel across much of the Global South, were already moving steadily toward electrification before the latest Mideast conflict, but their popularity is surging as that crisis makes access to conventional fuel difficult or expensive. An expansion of battery-swapping stations and government support in recent years is also spurring adoption of electric two- and three-wheelers, often abbreviated as 2W/3Ws. Electric models are already displacing some oil consumption, although estimates vary.

A global second-hand vehicle market, largely invisible to many people in the US, affects the economy, transportation, public health, and environment in the countries where the vehicles end up and their countries of origin. As increasing numbers of exported, used vehicles are hybrid and electric, their operation in importing countries can help reduce local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the disposal and recycling of spent batteries pose significant risks, particularly in regions that lack the infrastructure needed for safe handling.

NAIROBI, KENYA — UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May led a delegation to Kenya this week to advance a landmark partnership between the State of California and the Government of Kenya focused on climate action, clean transportation, climate smart agriculture, public health and innovation. Chancellor May was joined by Samuel Assefa, Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation as well as several university representatives.

Kenya and the U.S. state of California are strengthening cooperation in technology, climate innovation, and sustainable development, President William Ruto announced on Monday.

Speaking after hosting a delegation from California, the President highlighted the state’s position as the wealthiest in the United States and a key partner in fostering innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity with Kenya.

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Building on the historic engagement earlier this year between Kenya and California, on September 24, California Governor Gavin Newsom and H.E. President William Ruto of Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deepen cooperation on cutting pollution, advancing clean energy, and strengthening trade. The UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis) has been—and will continue to be—instrumental to these efforts, serving as the Secretariat for this partnership.

As part of its growing international presence, the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis) joined a California delegation to Kenya and Nigeria last month to advance climate action, trade, and university partnerships.

The North American automotive industry is undergoing a transformation driven by the electric vehicle (EV) transition, post-pandemic supply chain shifts, and increasing US protectionism. As the largest vehicle supplier to the US, Mexico faces both opportunities and risks in this evolving landscape. With 42% of its passenger vehicle production tied to US automakers and nearly 70% of its total output destined for the US, Mexico’s automotive industry is particularly vulnerable to the recently announced 25% tariffs on Mexican auto imports.

Graphite is carbon in its crystalline form. With its distinctive electrochemical properties, it forms anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), ensuring that they have stable charge and discharge cycles. Globally, as countries rely increasingly on electric power, the demand for LIBs—and therefore graphite—will be driven by both in-vehicle batteries and stationary energy storage. As nations choose where to invest, care must be taken to ensure that negative social and environmental impacts are avoided and that geopolitical concerns are carefully managed.