The War Below by Ernest Sheyder

Civilization would not exist were it not for miners. Every year the world’s oldest industry supplies hundreds of megatons of the primary metals and minerals that are essential to all subsequent industries—from medical devices to kitchen appliances, aircraft, toys, power plants, computers and cars. In order to build the things that we are hoping will save us from our rapidly changing climate, things such as electric vehicles, solar panels, cell phones, and millions of other devices, it means the world must dig more mines to extract lithium, copper, and other vital building blocks. Hence it’s consequential when the governments of Europe and the U.S. implement policies requiring that global mining expand, and soon, by 400% to 7,000%. Where will it all come from? Mines are deeply unpopular, even as they have a role to play in fighting climate change and powering crucial technologies. These tensions have sparked a worldwide reckoning over the sourcing of necessary materials, and this book tries to unravel the complexity of the issue and reveals the ongoing brawl between industry titans, conservationists, community groups, policymakers, and many others over whether the habitats of rare plants, sensitive ecosystems, Indigenous holy sites, and other places should be dug up for their riches.