New Books Network Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism with Thea Riofrancos
Jan 6, 2026
Thea Riofrancos, an Associate Professor of Political Science and expert on resource extraction and climate policy, dives deep into the complexities of lithium mining in the transition to green capitalism. She discusses the ethical dilemmas around resource extraction, emphasizing the tension between necessary materials and justice for affected communities. With insights on geopolitics and supply chains, Thea examines how global powers are reshaping their mineral policies and what this means for future development in the Global South.
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Why Lithium Is Politically Central
- Lithium is central because lithium-ion batteries uniquely enable large-scale EV and grid storage deployment.
- That centrality makes lithium pivotal politically and economically for decarbonizing transportation and grids.
No Environmental Free Lunch
- There is no environmental free lunch: building a zero-emissions system requires material inputs that create environmental and social costs.
- Ethically, we must design transitions from the world we want and then calculate material trade-offs and mitigation strategies.
Design Backwards From The End Goal
- Start with the zero-emissions society you want and work backward to its material needs and trade-offs.
- Calculate required minerals, technologies, and mitigation measures before committing to large-scale deployment.
