Post on 19-Mar-2020
Roopali Phadke Professor of Environmental Studies Macalester College
Image : China Water Risk
Image:Reuters
A lanthanum mine Nancheng County, Jiangxi
Image: National Geographic
Lithium mining in Bolivia
Source: World Bank 2019
Source: World Bank 2019
How can we sustainably and responsibly source green technology metals
to address climate change?
1)Repatriate2) Recycle3) Repair
Image Source: National Geographic
Image: National Geographic
www.macalester.edu/miningfutures
RECYCLING
~95% semiconductor material for thin-film PV panels can be recycled
Source: IRENA 2016
1,000 blades enteringthe Casper Regional Landfill in Wyoming
Bloomberg News Headline
RIGHT TO REPAIR
Star Tribune
Source: Gradel et al. 2011
“Metalsaregiftsfromthestarsthatweregeneratedoverbillionsofyears;weshouldtreatthemwiththeaweandrespecttheydeserveanddevisewaystorecyclethemoverandover. Onlythenwillsustainabilitybecomeareality”