As the climate crisis accelerates, the green transition has become something of a catchphrase. At the same time, polarisation is rising along with the advancement of digital capitalism, and securitization is back on the agendas of the world powers. In this context, and in a world with finite resources, control of raw materials is key. This report arises from the perceived need to shed light on both who stands to benefit and who pays the price of the new rush for raw materials, and the global dynamics accelerating these processes in the name of the transition to a “green” and low-carbon world.
It aims to build upon previous work by the Debt Observatory in Globalisation (ODG) in producing a critical analysis of the energy transition and its corporate capture (for instance, lithium mining in Chile and Argentinai), as well as work carried out with international allies under the umbrella of the Rare Earth Elements Group. Specifically, it focuses on three cases identified in the Rare Earths Impacts and Conflicts Map published in 2023 together with the EjAtlas, the Institute for Policy Studies and CRAAD-OI.
In July 2024, two members of ODG travelled to Madagascar on a fact-finding mission to deepen understanding of the experiences of communities on the front line of potential Rare Earths mining projects in the country. This fieldwork was done in collaboration with (and would not have been possible without) the local organisation CRAAD-OI (Research and Support Centre for Development Alternatives – Indian Ocean). The information contained in this report is based on more than 18 interviews with communities, traditional leaders, activists and researchers from the country
In the first section, we outline the global reality of Rare Earth Elements (REE) in the context of the so-called “green” transition and the factors lying behind the new push for raw materials. The following section centres on the territories bearing the burden of rare earth extraction in Madagascar, elucidating on how the quest for REE is impacting local peoples and emerging forms of resistance. Thereafter, common patterns are identified in the three cases studied. In section four, the transnational companies behind the projects are identified. The development of resistance against the mining projects is explained in section five. Lastly, the report closes with a number of final reflections.
This report aims to contribute to the conversation about what a truly just global socio-ecological transition could look like. It shines a spotlight on the contradictions of a system that purportedly strives to bring down emissions without tackling global inequalities. What interests lie behind this new rush for raw materials? Is it the planet, or capitalism on a new stage?
