Rare Earths in the Just Transition: Connecting Global Inequalities in REE Commodity Chains » All Rare Earth Elements Education Resources (tag [Climate Change])

Environmental Justice Atlas- ‘Lynas Refinery in Kuantan, Malaysia’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:27:33 GMT

Short case summary of an international environmental campaign against a long-established rare earth refinery in Malaysia based on concerns around ecological and health impacts, particularly related to the company’s dumping of radioactive waste

Environmental Justice Atlas- ‘Rare Earth Mining of Chalco, Yulin, Guangxi, China’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:26:48 GMT

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’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:25:59 GMT

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’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:25:03 GMT

Summary of the social, environmental and governance impacts of rare earth mining, as well as the geopolitical aspects of REE production:

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)- ‘Green Conflict Minerals: The fuels of conflict in the transition to a low-carbon economy’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:24:08 GMT

Detailed report on the social conflicts and local grievances which may be exacerbated by green mineral extraction. Looks at country cases where governance of the mining sector is ‘weak’, meaning a higher risk of human rights abuses, labour exploitation, social conflicts and environmental damage. Uses the example of REE mining in Baotao, China. Alongside facts and figures, includes an interactive map to highlight country-level measures of fragility and corruption across critical mineral deposits.

Green Biz- ‘Reimagining rare earth elements in a sacrifice zone-free future’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 13:53:43 GMT

Short article on the environmental degradation caused by rare earth mining in Baotao, China using the concept of ‘sacrifice zones’. It also highlights alternative visions for more sustainable and more just production of REEs, for instance through green chemistry or product re-design.

Carbon Brief- ‘Explainer: These six metals are key to a low-carbon future’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 13:51:49 GMT

An explainer on the importance of critical minerals to green technological developments necessary for meeting global climate change aims and the challenges posed by potential supply shortages for decarbonisation. Uses images, graphs, videos and makes specific connections between different critical minerals and low-carbon technologies.

Yale School of the Environment- ‘Boom in Mining Rare Earths Poses Mounting Toxic Risks’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 11:20:00 GMT

Highlights the toxic and radioactive waste generated by REE mining and processing plants using examples from Malaysia, Brazil and China

‘Rare Earth (2021)’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 11:18:02 GMT

A short film highlighting the environmental impacts caused by REE mining in Baotou, China:

The PRI (Principles of Responsible Investment) Podcast- ‘Rare earth minerals’

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 11:18:00 GMT

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