Misha Glenny explores the world of rare earth metals. Reducing CO2 emissions requires critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel but mining and processing them can pose a serious threat to the environment. Can we solve the paradox?

Guests:

Dr Julie Klinger, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences at the University of Delaware and author of Rare Earth Frontiers: From Terrestrial Subsoils to Lunar Landscapes
Teresa Ponce De Leao, chief executive of the Portuguese National Laboratory of Energy and Geology
Henry Sanderson, author of Volt Rush
Guillaume Pitron author of Rare Metals War

Producer: Ben Carter
Editor: Hugh Levinson
Sound engineer: James Beard
Production coordinator: Janet Staples

Correction: this episode incorrectly states that lithium is lighter than air. Lithium has a lower atomic mass than oxygen or nitrogen. Show less