All Rare Earth Elements Education Resources
Environmental Justice Atlas- ‘Rare Earth Mining of Chalco, Yulin, Guangxi, China’
Short case summary of protests which took place in a village in Guanxi, China due to concerns around pollution from a new REE mining project, particularly related to potential impacts on drinking water. Summarises the broader context of REE extraction and environmental impacts in China
Huber and Steininger (2022)- ‘Critical sustainability issues in the production of wind and solar electricity generation as well as storage facilities and possible solutions’
Recent article summarising the supply chain risks associated with critical mineral production, including rare earths, across human rights violations, poor governance and corruption in the mining sector and toxicity, as well as possible regulatory solutions to these problems. Includes a useful table in the introduction highlighting the sustainability/supply chain issues for each of the relevant critical minerals including REEs:
Sustainalytics- ‘Implications of the use of rare-earth elements in the wind energy market’
Summary of the social, environmental and governance impacts of rare earth mining, as well as the geopolitical aspects of REE production:
The Guardian- ‘Dirty, dangerous and destructive – the elements of a technology boom’
Article summarising the labour exploitation, dangerous working conditions and lack of health & safety protections associated with REE mining (as well as with e-waste disposal):
Smithsonian Mag- ‘Podcast: All About Rare Earth Elements, the ‘Vitamins’ Of Modern Society’
A podcast with Professor Julie Klinger on the geopolitics of rare earths and the supply issues surrounding REEs
International Energy Agency- ‘The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions’
Detailed report from the IEA on the key role of critical minerals including REEs in shifting towards renewable energy and mitigating against climate change through the use of key statistics and useful graphs. Also highlights the challenges to energy security posed by the available and reliable supply of critical minerals.
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
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).
BBC- The dystopian lake filled by the world’s tech lust
An article (written in a journalistic/immersive style and with various photos of the site) on the environmental costs of rare earth mining in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, one of the industrial centres of rare earth mining production, with a particular focus on the artificial toxic lake in Baotao, created to be a tailings pond.
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
Rare Earth Magnets and Motors: A European Call for Action
A report produced by European Raw Material Alliance discusses the importance of REE in making vehicles and motors