La guerra subterránea : El litio, el cobre y la batalla global por la energía

To manufacture electric vehicles, solar panels, mobile phones, and countless other devices, we need vast quantities of lithium, copper, and other scarce raw materials that must be extracted using unconventional techniques and in unconventional locations. In this essay, Ernest Scheyder reveals the explosive dispute between industry giants, conservationists, community groups, policymakers, and many others over whether to mine rare plant habitats, sensitive ecosystems, sacred Indigenous sites, and other places to extract their riches. He also explains why nations striving for energy independence are becoming increasingly interconnected: reviving rare-earth mining in California requires Chinese expertise, and international dependence on the African mining sector persists despite concerns about child labor. Meanwhile, ecological dilemmas abound: a proposed lithium mine in Nevada would help global automakers reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, but developing that mine could lead to the extinction of a flower found nowhere else on Earth. These tensions have sparked a global debate about the supply of materials needed to sustain the lifestyles of many countries for centuries to come. A current, comprehensive, and rigorous work on a hidden war that many of us are unaware of, but whose outcome will undoubtedly determine our future.