Peter Tom Jones
Dr. Peter Tom Jones earned his Master’s degree in Environmental and Chemical Engineering from KU Leuven in 1996, followed by a PhD in metallurgy (stainless steelmaking) in 2001.
After working as a postdoctoral researcher until 2008, he secured a permanent position through KU Leuven’s Industrial Research Fund as a Research & Innovation Manager specializing in Sustainable Metallurgy. Since 2020, Jones has served as the director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals (SIM²), an interdisciplinary research hub of more than 400 experts dedicated to the exploration, extraction, processing, refining, and recycling of energy-transition metals crucial for clean energy and mobility.
He has co-authored or contributed to around 40 granted European projects on critical metals and sustainable metallurgical processing, with a strong emphasis on lithium, cobalt/nickel, and rare earth elements. He is the (co-)author of 80+ peer-reviewed publications on sustainable metallurgy, which have been cited more than 6,000 times (h-index = 34, Web of Science).
His deep-rooted interest in the intersection of environmentalism and metallurgy has shaped his work for over 30 years, focusing on the role of critical metals in achieving climate neutrality. He has (co-)authored seven books addressing climate and environmental crises, as well as the transition to climate neutrality (Het Klimaatboek, Klimaatcrisis, Terra Incognita, Terra Reversa, and others).
Since 2022, Jones has expanded his impact by presenting authors’ documentaries that explore the connection between metals and the climate transition. His filmography includes Responsible Mining in Europe (2022), Made in Europe: From Mine to Electric Vehicle (2023 & 2024), The Sami Perspective (2024), Europe’s Mining Renaissance (2024), Not In My Country: Serbia’s Lithium Dilemma (February 2025), and Europe’s Lithium Paradox (May 2025). Committed to living his values, Jones has been an environmentally motivated vegetarian for 30 years and is an avid urban cyclist.
Baran Umut Baycan: “Peter Tom Jones stands as a modern-day Socrates for Europe, wielding unrelenting truths against the tide of ignorance and complacency, a lone but resolute voice defending reason and justice in the face of populist denial and shallow rhetoric.”
📢 Here we go! Europe’s Lithium Paradox’s trailer is live. A new author’s documentary aimed to build bridges. Developed by the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals (SIM2), STORYRUNNER, Horizon Europe LITHOS & Horizon Europe EXCEED.
🎞️ This film explores lithium’s crucial role in Europe’s mission to become the world’s first climateneutral continent, while recognizing the importance of local environmental & cultural preservation. The documentary unravels the intricate challenges and opportunities surrounding lithium mining, Хэштегrefining, and recycling. And it examines the role of demandsidemanagement reducing the need for primary lithium extraction.
👉The film intends to help building bridges between European Хэштегcivilsociety and the metals production industry. Peter Tom Jones: “Through this authors’ documentary, we aim to build bridges between European civil society and the mining & metals production industry—rather than polarise and antagonise. Only by working together can we move forward and overcome Europe’s lithium paradox.