Abstract:The grand transition to low-carbon energy system is essential to bend the growing carbon emission and further achieve the dual carbon goals. Critical metals such as rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and platinum are widely considered as the material base to support low-carbon technologies. However, given the supply of those metals are scarce and risky, the emerging conflicts between their supply and demand have spurred global attention and competition among countries. This study aims to explore the linkage between critical metals and low-carbon energy systems with a particular focus on the bottlenecks of China's supply chains of those critical metals. Accordingly, this study urges to form national strategies, together with China-oriented global governance system, to promote the simultaneous innovations and management of critical metals supply and low-carbon energy transition under the dual carbon goals.