From fossil fuels to ‘green capitalism’: the dilemmas of a just energy transition
Original story by: Nature.com
Last updated: Oct 6, 2025
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- Context: The book "Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism" by Thea Riofrancos examines the complexities of the global transition to renewable energy technologies. It argues that the focus on emissions reduction has created an illusion of "capitalism without carbon," highlighting the moral dilemmas inherent in green capitalism, particularly concerning resource extraction.
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- Detailed Summary:
- The global agreement in 2015 to transition economies to greener technologies, including renewables, electrification, and digitalization, has proven more complex than anticipated.
- The book focuses on lithium, a critical component for batteries and other green technologies, and the massive increase in mining required to meet projected demand.
- Riofrancos challenges the notion of a singular "net-zero" future, suggesting multiple zero-emissions worlds that prioritize both climate goals and the protection of people and ecosystems.
- Treating carbon emissions as a purely technical problem has led to a race for lithium, potentially opening vulnerable regions to neo-colonial exploitation.
- Chile's Atacama Desert, rich in lithium, serves as a case study, illustrating how its landscape has been historically described as barren to justify resource extraction, from Spanish colonial rule to modern economic potential.
- Fieldwork with diverse stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, environmentalists, and corporate actors, reveals competing agendas and visions for green futures.
- A central dilemma highlighted is the conflict between renewable energy development and Indigenous rights, and between climate action and biodiversity preservation.
- Wealthy industrial nations are re-evaluating supply chains due to China's dominance in electric vehicles and renewables production, leading to geopolitical tensions and a race for crucial minerals.
- The book suggests that trade barriers and transactional deals could lead to renewed exploitation in resource-rich regions, jeopardizing a just transition to green energy.
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