Laura Bicker

Laura Bicker, BBC's China correspondent and expert on rare earth mining, shares her firsthand insights from crucial mining hubs in China. She discusses the rising demand for rare earths, deemed vital for renewable energy, while revealing the environmental costs tied to their extraction. Laura highlights the dichotomy between economic benefits and ecological damage, shedding light on China's dominance in this arena. The conversation also touches on the implications for global competition in rare earth minerals and a mysterious climate satellite that's gone missing!

Ione Wells, a South America correspondent for BBC News, and Laura Bicker, BBC’s senior China correspondent, dive deep into urgent climate issues. They discuss Brazil's slowed efforts to reduce Amazon deforestation and the alarming implications of proposed oil drilling in the region. Meanwhile, Bicker highlights China's ambitious hydropower project, which promises renewable energy but raises environmental concerns and regional tensions. Their insights uncover the complex interplay between economic growth and urgent ecological needs in two pivotal countries.

In this engaging discussion, Laura Bicker, a BBC China correspondent known for her keen insights into environmental issues, shares her firsthand experiences at China's rare earth mining sites. She reveals how these crucial minerals, found in everyday technology, pose severe environmental threats due to their extraction processes. Bicker delves into the alarming pollution levels, the toxic waste produced, and the health risks faced by local communities. Listeners gain a clearer understanding of how vital yet harmful these 'rare' resources can be.