Europe needs ever more critical raw materials as these materials are in everything we own, want and need. But they aren’t always easily sourced. This is why the European Commission created the “Critical Raw Materials Act”. The aim, becoming less dependent on non-EU member states. But what makes sourcing these materials so difficult and sometimes unreliable? Why should we strive to follow this CRM-act? To answer these questions and more we are joined by Lucia van Geuns who works with The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies on the subject.
Host: Tim Schipper, VU Amsterdam
Guest host: Dr. Lingli Zhou, VU Amsterdam
Guest Expert: Lucia van Geuns, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
On “Critical Minerals, Critical Talks”
The consumption of mineral resources has rapidly increased over the last few decades, driven by the continuous growth of global population and technological innovations. Increasing importance has been put on “critical” raw materials, which are economically and strategically important but vulnerable to supply disruption. How can we ensure sustainable supply of critical minerals and metals, if society is to succeed in the decarbonisation of the global economy? And what does this mean to the society?
In the Critical Minerals, Critical Talks podcast, we ask questions about the critical role of mineral resources in contemporary society, the impact of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, and sustainable practices taken by minerals industry, academia and government organisation. Most importantly, we create conversations between experts in the field and university master students, as an integral part of the Sustainable Mineral Resources course at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, to help students explore their role as geoscientists in the energy transition.
Additional credits:
- Editor: Tim Schipper
- Producer: Lingli Zhou
- Sound: VU Campusradio
- Music composer: Sam Volman
- Cover image: Taiping Zhao
- Finance: VU-UT Seed grant- GreenMiner
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