Making ‘Green’ Energy ‘Clean’ Energy (Sept. 28, 2021)

The fight against climate change requires a shift to low-carbon technologies, but these alternative energy sources are not completely green, clean, or renewable. Many of the minerals needed to power climate-friendly initiatives are linked to conflict, social injustice, and severe environmental and public health crises. The first step towards developing a framework for responsible mining at home and abroad, in order to secure an equitable and sustainable low-carbon future, is an honest assessment of what renewable energy means. The presenter, Casey Bartrem, is executive director and environmental scientist at TerraGraphics International Foundation, a Moscow-based nonprofit that supports mining and recycling communities in addressing environmental health challenges.