Scars of Growth

The Green Deal is Europe’s new growth strategy, framed as a solution to avert climate collapse. By promoting electric cars and renewable energy, Brussels aims to boost economic growth while safeguarding the planet. Yet these “green” technologies require vast amounts of metals, most of which currently come from China. To reduce this dependency, politicians back the reopening of “green mines” in Europe. The communities living on these sites, however, worry that their livelihoods will be forsaken in the name of accelerating the energy transition.