The hidden cost of a green Europe: The extractive paradox of the energy transition
A new analysis in Energy Research & Social Science examines the “green extractivism” contradiction at the heart of Europe’s push for a just energy transition. The research argues that the massive demand for metals like lithium, cobalt, and copper, essential for renewable technologies, creates a new form of resource extraction that can replicate the social and environmental injustices of fossil fuel economies. The authors, Valenttina Cardozo Useche and Francesca Poggi, scrutinize whether a transition built on intensive mining can truly be equitable, raising critical questions about the geopolitical dependencies and ethical trade-offs involved.
Why it might matter to you:
This research directly connects to the strategic and ethical dimensions of energy procurement and policy you engaged with. It provides a critical framework for evaluating the supply chains behind clean energy initiatives, moving beyond technical specifications to consider their broader geopolitical and social justice implications. For anyone involved in planning or advocating for sustainable energy futures, it underscores the importance of integrating equity into the very design of transition strategies, not just their outcomes.
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