Rising global temperatures caused by spiking levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere make a clear case for cleaning up our environmental game. That is, at least, if we want to still inhabit planet Earth in a few generations' time.of those emissions, so any technology that lessens the environmental impact of how we get from A to B is a good thing.
"Rare Earths are a group of 15 elements often found together, and they're used in a very wide array of applications due to magnetic, luminescent, catalytic, or other properties," Daan de Jonge said. He's product director of critical minerals and multi-commodity atIt's the magnetic properties of these elements that make them valuable for the creation of permanent-magnet motors.
"A lot of clay mining happens in Myanmar, in Kachin," he said, adding that it is primarily conducted by the Kachin Independence Army, a difficult situation we'll delve into in just a moment. "All of Myanmar's mined material goes directly across the border to China. It is incredibly hard to know who is involved. We estimate Myanmar accounts for more than 40 percent of mined dysprosium, under horrible conditions.
"Rather than invest in heavy machinery,” Seraph Consulting’s Conroy said, “countries are chasing direct foreign investment. Much of this investment has come from Chinese firms, backed by Beijing, and these countries are forced to accept working conditions that no consumer goods industry serving Western markets would tolerate."There is some positive news for alternative sourcing. "There is strong government support in both the U.S.
"The United States can and arguably should maintain high ESG standards for domestic mining, but they must be paired with consistent government support so that these mines can stay competitive," he said. "In the meantime, given the long timeline to set up a domestic supply chain, the U.S. must reengage overseas and obtain direct access to critical minerals without China or any other foreign rivals owning a step in our supply chain.