Mining Ethics and Environmental Concerns in the Green Energy Transition

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This chapter explores the ethical and environmental challenges surrounding mining for metals like gold, silver, and platinum in the context of the green energy transition. It discusses the role of Irma in setting standards for responsible mining practices and the growing importance of transparency in the industry. The chapter also touches on tragic incidents like the Brazil tailings dam collapse and the impact of rare earth mining in China on global manufacturing practices.

To build electric vehicles, solar panels, cell phones, and millions of other devices means the world must dig more mines to extract lithium, copper, and other vital building blocks. But mines are deeply unpopular, even as they have a role to play in fighting climate change and powering crucial technologies.

Shermer and Scheyder discuss: • How much rare earth metals will we need by 2050, 2100, and beyond? • How do lithium-ion batteries work compared to lead-acid? What are the alternatives? • Will EVs completely replace all other cars? • Can renewables completely replace fossil fuels without nuclear? • How mining works in the U.S., China, Chile, Russia, elsewhere.

Ernest Scheyder is a senior correspondent for Reuters, covering the green energy transition and the minerals that undergird it. He previously covered the US shale oil revolution, politics, and the environment at the Associated Press.