Chapter 19 - Critical minerals and rare earths elements: Ethical and societal considerations

Abstract

Around 2050, the world economy is expected to have quadrupled with the global population growing from 7.3 to 10 billion. Furthermore, climate change is becoming a raising challenge and global trade is changing in response to political shifts. Increasing demand for mineral raw materials follows, stemming from the countless technologies needed for the transition to a low-carbon/low-waste future, the emerging digital revolution, electrification of consumption and production patterns. The critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements, are essential raw materials and technology enablers of green transition in all aspects of our economy and society. Thus, new strategic plans are promoted, such as the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, to achieve sustainable sourcing, and resilient value and supply chains. The ethical and societal principles that should be applied, including resource efficient and sustainable mining, protection of human rights worldwide, and public understanding of the role of mined products in everyday life, need to be re-evaluated.