The environmental and ethical costs of rare earth mining: Myanmar's devastation vs. Brazil's sustainable ambitions
By
Matt Blois
Summary
The article examines the environmental and social devastation caused by rare earth mining in Myanmar, where heavy rare earths essential for clean technologies are extracted under a military dictatorship with severe ecological consequences. It contrasts this with emerging mining operations in Brazil that claim to extract rare earths more responsibly and sustainably. The piece explores the global tension between the demand for rare earths (critical for green energy, EVs, and electronics) and the ethical and environmental costs of their extraction, questioning whether truly sustainable sourcing is possible.
Source
bskyThe environmental and ethical costs of rare earth mining: Myanmar's devastation vs. Brazil's sustainable ambitionscen.acs.orgKey quotes
· 3 pulledIn early 2024, a team of citizen scientists waded into a shallow, brown creek in northern Myanmar, an area controlled by an armed group aligned with the country's military dictatorship.
Mining the heavy rare earths needed for clean technologies caused devastation in Asia.
Miners in Brazil say they can extract them responsibly.
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