Declan Kellogg
Research Mentor: Brian Klein
Mentor Department: Afroamerican and African Studies, LSA
Author(s): Brian Klein, Declan Kellogg, Paarth Sharma
Session: Session 7 (4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 13
Abstract
As the world embraces the “Green Transition,â€_x009d_ demand for technology needed for carbon mitigation is increasing. These technologies require a variety of what have become known as “critical mineralsâ€_x009d_ to function. Madagascar, an island nation off the east coast of Africa, is well known for its biodiversity and poverty, but in recent years has emerged as a leading potential source of critical minerals, as well. Our research seeks to examine the socio-economic and political-economic effects of this heightened interest–involving not only multinational extractive corporations, but also the governments of countries like the United States and China–on the people and landscapes of Madagascar, as well as the global effects of associated projects in the critical mineral supply chain. Through an aggregation and analysis of existing academic research, current news events, social media posts and content, corporate and government reports, and archival materials, our aim is to produce a holistic view on the context and effects of the “Green Transitionâ€_x009d_ and associated critical mineral extraction on proximate communities and the country more generally. This deeper understanding is needed in order for the world to make more informed decisions on expanding critical mineral acquisition, as the consequences of our greatly increased demand become apparent.
