Critical Minerals, Development and Neoextractivism: contradictions and challenges for a fair energy transition
Critical minerals; development; climate crisis; neoextractivism; interest groups; energy transition
This project aims to investigate the contradictory and paradoxical relationships between critical minerals and development from the perspective of neoextractivism. I outline a brief history of the development promises made by the mineral sector in Brazil, with concrete cases, the current context of critical minerals, the sector's interest groups and programs focused on the area. The lens of neoextractivism provides a critical vision for a sector that presents itself as essential for the energy transition at the same time as being one of the main responsible for causing the climate crisis. The Advocacy Coalition Framework model allows you to map who the actors are in the current scenario and what beliefs they defend. I explore the historical and present contradictions of the mineral sector, the direct and indirect responsibility for socio-environmental impacts and the tortuous paths towards an effectively fair energy transition that respects human rights and nature.