The Next Resource Shortage?
Challenges in Specialty Metals and New Energy Sources
David S. Abraham
Author
The Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns, and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the Rare Metal Age
Luisa Moreno
Managing Partner and Analyst
Tahuti Global
Anthony Ku
Senior Engineer in Manufacturing and Materials Technologies
GE Global Research
Moderated by:
Annie Medaglia
Deputy Director, Global Energy Center
Atlantic Council
Welcome remarks by:
The Hon. Richard Morningstar
Founding Director, Global Energy Center
Atlantic Council
Please join us on Thursday, March 17 from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm for a discussion on the new resource challenges – specialty metals. Obscure resources we paid little attention to are increasingly playing critical roles as we switch to new energy sources, as high-tech proliferates globally, and as military technologies proliferate. A lack of understanding and production of these materials will limit their development and deployment of critical technologies.
Most notably, as the global community transitions from fossil fuels to clean energy, demand for rare metals will increase dramatically. Potential shortages and volatile prices will keep some technologies out of reach or limit the implementation of our most effective energy solutions. And with Beijing allocating vast sums to produce and process these materials, geopolitical risks abound.
The panelists will explore this budding war over the periodic table by discussing the following questions and more:
- What are the geopolitical implications of rare metals, and is the situation analogous to the geopolitics of hydrocarbons?
- How does the production and processing of rare metals differ from more traditional commodities and how does that affect nascent green, high-tech and defense technology production?
- How geographically dispersed are rare metals, and what are the risks of one country dominating production or processing?
- What can the international community do to increase transparency in the rare metals market and mitigate the industry’s environmental impact? How should each country examine resource security?
The Hon. Richard Morningstar, Founding Director of the Global Energy Center will provide welcome remarks and Annie Medaglia, Deputy Director of the Global Energy Center, will moderate the discussion. We hope that you will be able to join us for a lively discussion on this timely topic.
Date/Time:
Thursday, March 17, 2016
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
1030 15th Street NW 12th Floor (West Tower Elevator)
On Twitter? Follow @ACGlobalEnergy to join the discussion.