Carbon Clarity
Carbon Clarity is a podcast for the carbon curious - with interviews, news and views from experts in the world of carbon and sustainability.
We'll be connecting with some amazing guests to bring you insight, interest and clarity.
If you want to find out more about Hut22, head over to our website: hut22.co.uk
Carbon Clarity
#13 The Critical Chain: Minerals, Geopolitics, and the Green Transition
What do electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and satellites all have in common?
They rely on a complex, often invisible web of elements – rare earths and critical minerals – pulled from the ground, refined across borders, and essential to our transition to a net-zero carbon future.
But here’s the catch – the term “critical” isn’t as clear-cut as it sounds. It depends on who you ask, where you’re standing, and what you need.
In this episode, we dig deep into the world of critical minerals:
- What makes a mineral critical?
- Who decides?
- And just how secure are the global supply chains we’re relying on to power a cleaner world?
We’re joined by Gavin Mudd, Director of the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre at the British Geological Survey – a leading voice in the field, and someone who’s been tracking the geology, the politics, and the pressure points for decades.
This is more than a conversation about rocks – it’s about geopolitics, sustainability, and the race for resources in the 21st century.
Things mentioned in the episode:
Gavin’s LinkedIn page: LinkedIn
Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre: CMIC Website
British Geological Survey: BGS Website
Interactive periodic table: Periodic Table - Ptable - Properties - State at - °C
Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/
Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet