Welcome to another week of Shaken Not Burned! 

Mining may not seem an obvious ally when planning a sustainable future but, without critical minerals, decarbonisation may not be achievable. Tools such as wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, phones and computers all need raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths.

Their key role in the energy transition and defence is influencing geopolitical trends and driving international trade – propelling what once was a somewhat niche industry to a fixture of global headlines.

As demand continues to climb, the rush for critical minerals will continue shaping international relations, highlighting the need to address major environmental and social implications. All of this comes with trade-offs: we must be aware of the cost of our choices and work with industry and politics to reduce negative impacts as much as possible.

In this week's episode, Giulia interviews Olimpia Pilch, critical minerals consultant at Minefield Consulting, on the complex world of critical minerals, their importance in energy transition and defence, and the geopolitical and environmental challenges involved. 

Their wide-ranging conversation covers:

• The definition of critical minerals

• Supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical risks

• China's role in critical mineral processing and supply

• What are the potential and limitations of critical mineral recycling

• The environmental and social implications of mineral extraction

While the Global North has outsourced polluting industries, including mining, for decades, clean technologies cannot be produced without these primary sources. Amid geopolitical tensions straining supply chains, achieving the energy transition may require a new world order.

Further reading:

• International Energy Agency’s Critical Minerals Outlook 2025

• Critical minerals geopolitics in 2026: risks, supply chains and global power shifts

• Critical Minerals Explained: Why They Matter for Geopolitics, Clean Energy & Tech

• The hidden potential of Trump’s critical minerals stockpile

• China spent $120B to lock down critical minerals overseas: report

• Transporting End-of-Life EV Batteries Can Be a Nightmare

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