ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author turns his attention to the environmental dimension of the global crisis. In the current global and regional context of capitalist development, the transition to clean technologies has emerged as the overarching solution to the crisis. This, in turn, entails a worldwide shift from fossil fuel dependence towards a diversified energy source. However, recent studies by international organisations have made clear that an exponential increase in wind power, solar energy, and other renewables will require the extensive and intensive exploitation of ‘critical raw materials’ (CRMs). CRMs are also known as technology or minor metals, extracted in smaller quantities that are widely used across a range of intermediate and final output manufacturing sectors. Latin America—and Africa—are expected to fuel the extraction of these minerals to support the global transition to clean energy. In this context, the chapter seeks to examine the place of Latin America in this emerging global value chain, and the extent to which a renewed industrial strategy can be crafted to enable regional governments to take advantage of this new boom in resource production.
