The War Over Rare Metals.The Hidden Side of Ecological Transition

Original title: La guerre des métaux rares

Publication Date:

January 2018

Pages:

276

Original language and publisher

French | Les Liens Qui Liberent

Territories Handled

Netherlands, North America, Scandinavia

Territories Sold

Spanish (Spain) (Península/Planeta)
Italy (LUISS University Press)
World English (Scribe)
China (Commonwealth)
Poland (Kogut)
South Korea (Galapagos)
Russia (AST)
Japan (Hara Shobo)
Hungary (Pallas Athéné Könyvkiado)
Turkey (Kültur)

Genres

Environment, Science, Society

The War Over Rare Metals.The Hidden Side of Ecological Transition

Original title: La guerre des métaux rares

Synopsis

‘[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

‘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

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 dependency on nuclear power, coal, and oil, heralding a new era free of pollution, fossil-fuel shortages, and cross-border tensions. But there is a hidden dark side to this seemingly utopian vision.

Drawing on six years of research across a dozen countries, award-winning journalist and documentarist Guillaume Pitron reveals that, by breaking free of fossil fuels, we are in fact setting ourselves up for a new dependence — on rare metals such as 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; meanwhile, China has captured the lion’s share of the market and is using it to consolidate its position as a leading global power.

The War Over Rare Metals is a vital exposé of the ticking time-bomb that lies beneath our new technological order.

Marketing Information

  • Over 90,000 copies sold.
  • English translation available.
  • Winner of 2018 BFMTV’s Economic Book of the Year, 2018 Cosnes City Book Fair Reader’s Club Award, 2018 HEC Student Prize, 2018 Manpowergroup/HEC Paris Literary Award, 2018 Prix Turgot Best Financial Economy, 2018 The French Geographical Society Escourrou Award
  • A new documentary film on the subject by Pitron will be released in October by Arte in France and Germany the 1st of October 2020 and several countries will follow (Portugal, Japan, Ireland, Hong-Kong, Spain, Belgium (in French and Dutch) and Finland.