The race to compete for resources has begun. Some of the most precious minerals on the planet, the ones that power our digital lives and green technologies, are running out. What happens when it runs out?
The green technology revolution has been widely hailed as the perfect solution to a new world, one finally free of oil, pollution, shortages and cross-border tensions. After years of research in twelve countries, this book, in its updated version, presents a new vision that goes beyond traditional environmental concepts, to reveal the hidden side.And the dark green technology.
By abandoning fossil fuels, we are in effect setting ourselves up for a new dependence on rare earths such as cobalt, gold and palladium. These minerals are essential for electric cars, wind turbines, solar panels, smartphones, computers, tablets, and other Internet-connected devices we use every day.China has captured the lion's share of the rare earths industry, but consumers know very little about how they are extracted and traded, or about their environmental, economic, and geopolitical costs.
The War of Rare Earths is a momentous revelation of the ticking time bomb behind our new technological system. It reveals the truth about our lavish and ambitious environmental pursuit, which entails risks no less serious than those it seeks to solve.
