28. Critical Minerals, Critical Choices: Trade, Justice, and the Energy Transition

28. Critical Minerals, Critical Choices: Trade, Justice, and the Energy Transition

Author: Jenn Galler February 20, 2026 Duration: 19:22

As the world transitions toward a clean energy future, there is more demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. These minerals are essential for clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and even our everyday electronics.

But where do these minerals come from? Who controls their extraction? Who bears the environmental and human costs? How can we ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy doesn’t repeat the extractive injustices of the past?

Today, we’re joined by Will Jamil Wiltschko, who is with the California Trade Justice Coalition, a coalition of organizations working to ensure that Critical Mineral Agreements adhere to international climate, labor, and human rights standards.

Contact and connect: https://criticalmineralsjustice.org/

https://gtwaction.org/the-deadly-cost-of-cobalt-mining-in-the-congo/


Hosted by Jenn Galler, In Our Backyard Podcast is the voice of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, bringing urgent local stories to the forefront. This isn't about abstract global debates; it's a grounded conversation focused on the very real industrial pressures facing specific towns and neighborhoods. Each episode examines a particular threat, from active coal plants and fracking operations to the routing of new pipelines, unpacking the complex realities behind the headlines. You'll hear directly from the residents and organizers who are living these fights, sharing their personal struggles and strategies for safeguarding both community health and the local environment. The discussions are detailed and thoughtful, prioritizing the experiences of those on the ground. Tuning into this podcast means connecting with the persistent, often overlooked work of environmental justice, understanding that the most critical battles for planetary protection frequently begin just outside our own doors.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

In Our Backyard Podcast
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