Description
Book SynopsisA celebrated international bestseller that exposes the ticking time-bomb underneath our new technological order.
The resources race is on. Powering our digital lives and green technologies are some of the Earth’s most precious metals — but they are running out. And what will happen when they do? The green-tech revolution will reduce our reliance on nuclear power, coal, and oil, but by breaking free of fossil fuels, we are setting ourselves up for a new dependence — on rare metals like cobalt, gold, and palladium. These are essential to electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, as well as our smartphones, computers, tablets, and other technologies. But we know very little about how rare metals are mined and traded, or their environmental, economic, and geopolitical costs — until now.
Trade Review‘Recognising that the latest technologies might not be as green as we like to think is a good place to start planning for a better world.’
-- John Arlidge * The Sunday Times *
‘[T]he journalist and filmmaker warns against the optimistic belief that technology is the solution … At a time when many claim to be “citizens of the world” or retreat into naive or hypocritical protectionism, Pitron’s book is an attempt to open people’s eyes to the consequences of their societal choices and lifestyles.’
* Green European Journal *
‘Both novel and eye opening … The Rare Metals War is worth the read.’
-- Art Flynn * Irish Examiner *
‘French Writer and analyst Guillaume Pitron warns about growing reliance on rare-earth metal — which are necessary to build high-tech products … He shines a light on “the untold story” of the energy and digital transitions.’
* European Scientist *
‘An expert account of a poorly understood but critical element in our economy.’
* Kirkus Reviews *
‘[E]xposes the dirty underpinnings of clean technologies in a debut that raises valid questions about energy extraction.’
* Publishers Weekly *
‘The Rare Metals War is Guillaume Pitron’s urgent exposé of the race for resources and an examination of its environmental and human impacts.’
-- Dan Shaw * Happy Magazine *
