The Supply of Rare Earths for “Green” Energy and Sustainable Development

Abstract

The paper investigates key issues related to alternative energy provision with the rare earth metals. The problem is essential for the energy sector as one of the most intensively developing sectors of the world economy, since the reliability of resource supply depends heavily both on China’s foreign trade policy and the ability of the monopoly supplier to cope with environmental problems. Fast growth of the latter questions the viability of sustainable development ideas on a global scale. In the paper, the resources needed for alternative energy were estimated taking into account the target structure of world energy production and consumption. The prospects for reliable supply of consumers with critical raw materials were analyzed on the basis of countries’ resources and production capacities. The investigation of the environmental pollution problem comprised consideration of ecological, trade and economic, as well as some legal aspects of providing European “green energy” with critical raw materials. Some economic, technological and environmental measures were offered, which together with the mechanisms of international bilateral and multilateral agreements will allow progress to be made in addressing the global problem — providing “green energy” with rare earth elements in the context of sustainable development. Refs 43. Figs 2. Table 1.