All Rare Earth Elements Education Resources
Yale School of the Environment- ‘Boom in Mining Rare Earths Poses Mounting Toxic Risks’
Highlights the toxic and radioactive waste generated by REE mining and processing plants using examples from Malaysia, Brazil and China
‘Rare Earth (2021)’
A short film highlighting the environmental impacts caused by REE mining in Baotou, China:
The PRI (Principles of Responsible Investment) Podcast- ‘Rare earth minerals’
A short podcast with Hongqiao Liu from China Water Risk on the environmental sustainability issues with the supply of REEs, including the technology used for the mining process
Science History Institute- ‘Rare Earths: The Hidden Cost to Their Magic’
A podcast on the hidden environmental damage caused by the extraction and processing of REEs and potential scientific solutions to these problems
Forbes- ‘A Sustainable Way To Mine Rare Earth Elements From Old Tech Devices: Agromining Explained’
Discussion around agro-mining as a more sustainable and environmentally damaging form of REE extraction.
New Security Beat- ‘As China Adjusts for “True Cost” of Rare Earths, What Does It Mean for Decarbonization?’
A summary article based on the report, ‘Rare Earths: Shades of Grey,’ published by China Water Risk, a Hong Kong non-profit initiative, describing the regulatory plans and clean-up developments in China in response to the environmental and health costs caused by REE mining which are not captured in the current prices of REEs (hence, these are not the true costs).
Harvard International Review- ‘Not So “Green” Technology: The Complicated Legacy of Rare Earth Mining’
A summary article about the negative and health effects of rare earth mining, particularly groundwater contamination and toxic waste, drawing on examples from China.
Spark- ‘The Environmental Struggle Over Rare-Earth Elements For A Green Future’.
On the environmental impacts of rare earth mining and on the search for more environmentally-friendly ways of processing the REE materials.
Los Angeles Times- The hidden costs of China’s rare-earth trade
Article describing the environmental degradation and toxic pollution caused by REE mining in Jiangxi Province, China and the health risks for nearby villagers (as well as some small-scale protests).
China Wrestles with the Toxic Aftermath of Rare Earth Mining
An article on the toxic impacts and legacies of rare earth mining in China and the significant challenges and costs of clean-up operations
Metals in a Low-Carbon Economy: Resource Scarcity, Climate Change and Business in a Finite World
A report produced by experts from the Stockholm Environment Institute and Leeds Uni about REE, provides an overview of REE industry through business perspective
PODCAST - Julie Klinger on China’s rare earth frontier
An interesting podcast talks about REE production in China.
21:30: How China’s near-monopoly on rare earths came to be
32:49: Mining and environmental degradation
45:32: China’s decision to slow down rare earth production and its consequences
Podcast | Where Will We Get the Rare Earth Minerals for Our Electric Cars?
Very interesting 22 mins podcast about REE’s impacts on electric cars
Elemental Business: Rare Earths
A 18 mins Podcaset about REE in business by BBC.
China to Form Two Rare Earth Giants to Strengthen Pricing Power
An article discusses the forming of REE monopoly by Chinese government
Economic Extraction, Recovery, and Upgrading of Rare Earth Elements from Coal-Based Resources
A Powerpoint produced by researchers at the University of Utah and introduces the economic extraction, recovery, and upgrading of REE
The Rare Earth Elements by the British Geological Survey
A report produced by the Natural Environmental Research Council of Britain. It talks every aspects of REE, such as chemistry, extraction, trading in the UK
China’s Growing Conflict with the WTO: The Case of Export Restrictions on Rare Earth Resources
An interesting article discusses the trading of REE, and how China violates WTO regulations in REE trading
China’s dominance of rare earth metals has left Britain strategically vulnerable
The article discusses the monopoly of China in REE and impacts to the UK
China’s rare earth exports surge past pre-coronavirus levels, despite Western push to diversify supply
An article discusses the increase production of REE in China and the impacts to the REE industry