logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
17m 25s

The blind spots of the green energy tran...

TED
About this episode

The world needs clean power, but decarbonization calls for a massive increase in the mining and extraction of minerals like lithium, graphite and cobalt. Environmental peacemaking expert Olivia Lazard sheds light on the scramble for these precious mineral resources -- and how the countries that control their supply chains (including China and Russia) could find themselves at the center of the new global stage. Learn why Lazard thinks planetary security depends on our ability to de-escalate resource competition and avoid the same mistakes that led to the climate crisis.

Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
1 thing you can do today to be happier | Sonja Lyubomirsky
Can anyone become happier? Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky studies this question in her lab, doing experiments on "happiness interventions" to see what kinds of actions elicit this sought-after emotion. In a quick talk, she shares the results of her work: a small shift that can ch ... Show More
23m 7s
Feb 2
In defense of hip-hop | Roland Fryer
Hip-hop often gets blamed for its controversial lyrics. What if there was a way to actually measure its impact on people's lives? Analyzing 40 years' worth of radio station data and lyrics from rappers like Tupac, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, economist Roland Fryer puts one ... Show More
13m 49s
Feb 1
Sunday Pick: How to think critically about history — and why it matters (w/ David Ikard)
Have you ever recalled a story only to have someone point out "that's not how it went"? Well, what happens when what we misrepresent are our historical narratives? David Ikard is a Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University. In this episode, he ta ... Show More
30m 20s
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
How can we make lithium-ion batteries more sustainable?
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are set to play a key role in the transition to a decarbonized world. They are one of the principal energy sources for electric vehicles, grid storage and many consumer electronics. As things stand, however, the way that we produce and manage LIBs ove ... Show More
39m 6s
Jun 2024
Ernest Scheyder on lithium, mining, and the politics behind going green.
Ernest Scheyder is an author and senior correspondent for Reuters. His new book, The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives, looks at the impact of the green transition in the US – and, more particularly, the tensions over the increasing need to mine ... Show More
52m 36s
Oct 2023
The energy transition needs minerals. Is deep sea mining the best way to get them?
<p>The International Energy Agency last month held its first ever&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iea.org/news/iea-critical-minerals-and-clean-energy-summit-delivers-six-key-actions-for-secure-sustainable-and-responsible-supply-chains" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">summit</ ... Show More
53m 14s
Nov 2021
The coming cleantech mining rush
Can the minerals needed to decarbonise the global economy be dug up fast enough? And can it be done without the human rights and environmental abuses of the past?Tamasin Ford speaks to KC Michaels of the International Energy Agency says there will need to be a staggering increase ... Show More
18m 13s
Apr 2024
US Energy: The Minerals and Materials at Risk
<p>With global temperatures rising and an increasing urgency to speed progress on the energy transition, our Head of Sustainability Equity Research examines the key materials needed—and the risks of disruption from US-China trade tensions.</p><p><br></p><p>----- Transcript -----< ... Show More
4m 5s
Jul 2023
Christopher Grove: How China Manipulates the Rare Earth Market to it’s Advantage
Christopher Grove, President and Director of Commerce Resources, returns to the show as an expert on the rare earth element market. Electric motors are just one of the many users of rare earth magnets. China accounts for 70% of mining production and 85% of global processing capac ... Show More
38m 28s
Jul 2023
Minerais critiques: une offre toujours concentrée dans une poignée de pays
Le marché des minéraux critiques nécessaires à la transition énergétique a doublé de taille au cours des cinq dernières années. Mais l’offre reste encore concentrée dans les pays déjà dominants, selon un rapport annuel de l’Agence internationale de l’énergie. La concentration de ... Show More
1m 47s
Apr 2022
Wealth from waste: can urban mining save the planet?
Ivana Davidovic investigates urban mining - the process of reclaiming raw materials from spent products, buildings and waste. She looks at what new technologies are helping us to recycle waste and the benefits that could bring. In Antwerp, Belgium, she visits Umicore, once a trad ... Show More
17m 29s