The Rare Metals War and What Results from It

Cobalt, indium, graphite, platinum, tungsten and rare earths are essential for the production of electric cars, solar panels, computers and many other components of our daily lives and key trends of our civilisation.

However, nothing is given for free and opinions are growing louder that increased extraction and trade in rare earths could have negative consequences for both the ecology and the economies of many countries.

It should also be borne in mind that the extraction of these raw materials often takes place on the territory of countries that may – for political or business reasons – withhold exports.

Are these fears correct? How to counteract the negative effects while preserving the benefits of the development of civilisation? How do we find a balance between the business interests of corporations, the political and economic interests of individual countries and the security of our globe?

Guest:

Guillaume Pitron, Journalist, Author and Documentary Maker, France

Moderator:

Witold Wilczyński, Professor, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Poland

Panelists:

Wojciech Hann, CEO, President of the Management Board, Bank Ochrony Środowiska S.A., Poland
Barbara Juszczyk, Managing Director, Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Poland