WHAT ABOUT CRITICAL MINERALS? A necessity for clean energy technologies or a harmful new dependency?

Nearly every aspect of our lives depends on minerals. From mobile phones and cars to medical devices and laptops, these essential elements are everywhere. The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy hinges on critical minerals. However, their mining and processing can lead to significant environmental and social challenges.

In this episode, James and Daisy explore the complex issues surrounding the supply of critical minerals. Can we bridge the gap between supply and demand? How can we navigate the escalating geopolitical tensions? Can we trust the mining companies?

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Toxic Cost of Going Green: a 23-minute documentary from Unreported World investigating cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future by Ed Conway: Read this book to learn more about the six most crucial substances in human history: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium.
• Morgan Bazilian: As the Director of the Payne Institute and a Professor of public policy at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Bazilian offers compelling insights into mining and energy security.
• Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change: Listen to this podcast by Michael Liebreich and Bryony Worthington where each week they have a conversation with a leader in clean energy, mobility, climate finance or sustainable development. They have recent episodes on topics related to critical minerals, including battery recycling.
• Simon Evans: Follow Simon on social media for more insights on the energy transition, including critical minerals. Simon covers climate and energy policy for Carbon Brief, a UK-based website covering the latest developments in climate science, climate policy and energy policy.

OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:

• IEA: “To hit net-zero globally by 2050, would require six times more mineral inputs in 2040 than today.”
• IEA: “A typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car.”
• SUN Mobility aims to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility with their battery swapping technology. This technology enables users to purchase their electric vehicles without a fixed battery pack and subscribe to a battery swapping service that allows them to simply swap a depleted battery for a fully charged, temperature-controlled battery pack.
• The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) is a European Community Directive that, together with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive became law in February 2003. The WEEE Directive set collection, recycling and recovery targets for all types of electrical goods.
• MIT Climate: “In 2021, over 7.5 billion tons of coal were extracted from the ground, while the IEA projects that the total amount of minerals needed for clean energy technology by 2040 will be under 30 million tons.”
• McKinsey: Mining is not seen as an attractive industry for young talent in Canada – 42% of respondents, aged 15 to 30, definitely would not consider working in mining, and 28% probably would not.
• Pollination commissioned a new independent legal opinion, which concludes that directors subject to the law of England and Wales should have regard to relevant nature-related risks.
• National Grid: In the UK, power provided from coal was responsible for only 1% of electricity generation in 2023, compared to 2018 when coal represented 5.1% and 2013 when 39.6% was generated by coal.

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Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3

Producer: Podshop Studios

Huge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.

Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.