Olivia Lazard

Olivia Lazard, an expert in collective security, joins to discuss the urgent need for global collaboration in the face of planetary crises. They delve into the complexities of the Anthropocene, legacy systems of extraction, dematerialization of economies, and the balance of power tipping our planet into crisis.

On this episode, environmental peacemaker and mediator Olivia Lazard joins Nate to unpack the relationship between mineral deposits, conflict-vulnerable zones, and high biodiversity areas to create interlocking risks to geopolitical and climate stability. Much like Olivia’s research, this conversation covers a wide variety of topics and is jam-packed with information. Will we have to plunder the planet in order to save it? Will we be able to transition to a multi-polar world order somewhat peacefully? And what can we learn from mediators and peacemakers, like Olivia, as we move into a more materially constrained future - where the whole pie is smaller? About Olivia Lazard: Olivia is an environmental peacemaking and mediation practitioner as well as a researcher and a fellow at Carnegie Europe. Her research focuses on the geopolitics of climate, the transition ushered by climate change, and the risks of conflict and fragility associated with climate change and environmental collapse. She has over twelve years of experience in the peacemaking sector at field and policy levels. In her fieldwork, her focus was to understand how globalization and the international political economy shaped patterns of violence and vulnerability patterns as well as formed new types of conflict systems that our international governance architecture has difficulty tackling with agility. For Show Notes and More visit: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/58-olivia-lazard To watch this video episode on Youtube → https://youtu.be/UNkzGKTjBWM

Olivia Lazard, an expert in environmental peacemaking, discusses the intense global competition for minerals like lithium and cobalt crucial for the green energy transition. She emphasizes the geopolitical implications of mineral extraction, particularly the power struggles involving nations such as China, Russia, and the U.S. Lazard warns that unchecked resource competition could lead to further crises, stressing the importance of innovative strategies to ensure ecological integrity and geopolitical stability in our shift to clean energy.

Olivia Lazard, a peace mediator and rare minerals expert, sheds light on the hidden challenges of renewable energy. She reveals that the transition relies heavily on scarce resources like lithium and cobalt, with significant ecological costs. The conversation dives into the socio-economic impacts of cobalt mining in places like the Congo, highlighting child labor and community exploitation. Lazard advocates for a holistic approach to energy policy, urging awareness of overlooked issues as we strive for sustainable practices in the green economy.

Olivia Lazard, a peace mediator and rare minerals expert, reveals the hidden drawbacks of renewable energy transition, exposing the shortage of vital metals like lithium and cobalt. She discusses the devastating environmental impacts and geopolitical implications of mining these minerals. The conversation delves deep into climate security, technology's limitations, and the need for a more sustainable approach to clean tech solutions.