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Social and Environmental Impact of the Rare Earth Industries

Author

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  • Saleem H. Ali

    (Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia)

Abstract

The use of rare earth elements in various technologies continues to grow despite some alternatives being found for particular uses. Given a history of ecological concerns about pollution from rare earth mines, particularly in China, there are growing social and environmental concerns about the growth of the mining and mineral processing in this sector. This is best exemplified by the recent social and environmental conflict surrounding the development of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Kuantan, Malaysia which led to international activism and claims of environmental and social injustice. This paper analyses the structure of environmental and social conflicts surrounding rare earth minerals and opportunities for improving the social and environmental performance of the sector. Many of these elements are used for green technologies. Opportunities exist that offer a more circular supply chain following industrial ecological principles through which reuse and recycling of the materials can provide a means of mitigating social and environmental conflicts in this sector. In addition, public engagement processes that recognize community concerns about radiation, and transparent scientifically predicated decision-making through an appropriate governance structure within regulatory organizations are also presented.

Suggested Citation

  • Saleem H. Ali, 2014. "Social and Environmental Impact of the Rare Earth Industries," Resources, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:3:y:2014:i:1:p:123-134:d:32917
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Erika Machacek & Jessika Luth Richter & Ruth Lane, 2017. "Governance and Risk–Value Constructions in Closing Loops of Rare Earth Elements in Global Value Chains," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Häberle, Philip Christoph, 2023. "Discussion of automotive trends and implications for German OEMs," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 8(4), pages 955-992.
    3. Elshkaki, Ayman, 2023. "The implications of material and energy efficiencies for the climate change mitigation potential of global energy transition scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    4. Chinenye Chinwego & Rosanna Garcia & Daniel McArthur Sehar & Evan MacGregor & Steven Tate & Kenneth Savage & Thaddaeus Zuber & Benjamin Sseruwagi & Daniel Dietrich & Emmanuel Opoku & David Smith & Ada, 2025. "Sufficiency-driven business models for rare earth recycling: integrating stakeholder collaboration and customer discovery for sustainable innovation," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, December.
    5. York R. Smith & Pankaj Kumar & John D. McLennan, 2017. "On the Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from Geothermal Brines," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-16, August.

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