Why REE Mining Makes Green Technology Not Very Green

Green technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels depend on rare earth elements, but extracting and processing these materials can create serious environmental and community health risks. Andrew Oliver examines the hidden costs of REE mining and explores how recycling, safer extraction methods, stronger regulation, and Indigenous participation could support a more responsible clean-energy transition.

The Different Types of Mining and Their Environmental Impacts

Sustainability • Mining Methods The Different Types of Mining & Their Environmental Impacts A clear, visual guide to surface, underground, in-situ, dredging and artisanal mining — how each works, what it does to land and water, and credible mitigation paths. Quick navigation Surface mining (open-pit, strip, mountaintop, placer) Underground mining (room-and-pillar, longwall, block caving) In-situ […]