The Scramble for Critical Minerals

Speaker: Cleodie Rickard, campaigner, Global Justice Now

Vital to green energy production and storage, the needs of AI and big tech and the military. Critical Minerals (Lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, copper, rare earth elements to name a few) are the current day gold or oil. Exploiting new deposits is all important to global leadership in energy, tech and arms. This race, however, demonstrates the worst excesses of capitalist competition and exploitation.

A serious overhaul of how we run the economy and live our lives is needed to tackle the climate crisis – and there are signs that decision makers are recognising the urgent need for a ‘green transition’: a massive shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy systems.

Yet there are different possible versions of this new green economy. Will the global majority benefit, or will it maintain the power dynamics that ensure big business and wealthier countries keep the largest share of the pie?

Come join the discussion and help decide what we are going to do as activists.