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Pathways for greening the supply of rare earth elements in China

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  • Jason C. K. Lee

    (Tsinghua University
    Ministry of Education of China, Tsinghua University)

  • Zongguo Wen

    (Tsinghua University
    Ministry of Education of China, Tsinghua University)

Abstract

Rare earths are essential to a wide array of different technologies, including clean technology. However, rare earths production has a large environmental footprint, warranting a greening of the industry. We quantify environmental impacts from rare earths production in China and project pathways towards sustainability of the industry to 2025 under different scenarios for development. We show that net environmental cost–benefits in 2015 were −US$14.8 billion (net cost). This cost would increase to −US$16 billion by 2025 under a reference scenario and fall to −US$6 billion by 2025 in the most environmentally friendly scenario. The single strategy that can reduce environmental impacts the most is to tackle illegal mining. Doing so would include increased regulatory enforcement and can yield significant eco-cost savings (US$5 billion). However, it may also tighten supply of rare earths and ignite market volatility, particularly in an uncertain global trade climate. A complementary strategy of relaxing restrictions on legal production can contribute to higher eco-cost savings while concurrently meeting global demand for rare earths.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason C. K. Lee & Zongguo Wen, 2018. "Pathways for greening the supply of rare earth elements in China," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(10), pages 598-605, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:1:y:2018:i:10:d:10.1038_s41893-018-0154-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0154-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Tang, Yanyan & Zhang, Qi & Wen, Zongguo & Bunn, Derek & Martin, Jesus Nieto, 2022. "Optimal analysis for facility configuration and energy management on electric light commercial vehicle charging," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    2. A. S. M. Sazzad Parveg & Ramin Ordikhani-Seyedlar & Tejasvi Sharma & Scott K. Shaw & Albert Ratner, 2022. "A Recycling Pathway for Rare Earth Metals (REMs) from E-Waste through Co-Gasification with Biomass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Ge, Zewen & Geng, Yong & Wei, Wendong & Zhong, Chen, 2022. "Assessing samarium resource efficiency in China: A dynamic material flow analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Wang, Peng & Chen, Li-Yang & Ge, Jian-Ping & Cai, Wenjia & Chen, Wei-Qiang, 2019. "Incorporating critical material cycles into metal-energy nexus of China’s 2050 renewable transition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Aziman, Eli Syafiqah & Ismail, Aznan Fazli & Rahmat, Muhammad Abdullah, 2023. "Balancing economic growth and environmental protection: A sustainable approach to Malaysia's rare-earth industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    6. Jingxuan Geng & Han Hao & Xin Sun & Dengye Xun & Zongwei Liu & Fuquan Zhao, 2021. "Static material flow analysis of neodymium in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(1), pages 114-124, February.
    7. Schmid, Marc, 2019. "Mitigating supply risks through involvement in rare earth projects: Japan's strategies and what the US can learn," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Xiao, Shijiang & Geng, Yong & Rui, Xue & Gao, Ziyan & Su, Chang & Yao, Tianli & Zhong, Chen, 2024. "Anthropogenic cycles of praseodymium in China: 2000–2020," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    9. Lai Quang Tuan & Thriveni Thenepalli & Ramakrishna Chilakala & Hong Ha Thi Vu & Ji Whan Ahn & Jeongyun Kim, 2019. "Leaching Characteristics of Low Concentration Rare Earth Elements in Korean (Samcheok) CFBC Bottom Ash Samples," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-11, May.
    10. Hamed, Mosaab M. & Turan, Hasan Hüseyin & Elsawah, Sondoss, 2024. "Balancing supply diversification and environmental impacts: A system dynamics approach to de-risk rare earths supply chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

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