Geopolitics of Green Transition

The global transition toward renewable energy systems and decarbonization, often referred to as the "green transition," relies heavily on rare-earth minerals that are essential for technologies such as batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels. Although this transition offers substantial environmental and economic advantages for industrialized economies, it has also generated new geopolitical dynamics and patterns resembling neo-colonial resource extraction in the Global South. This paper examines the environmental, economic, and legal implications of rare-earth mineral exploitation, focusing on the asymmetric power relations, labor practices, and ecological consequences that disproportionately affect producing countries. It further analyses governance approaches, international regulatory frameworks, and policy interventions to promote equitable and sustainable management of critical mineral resources.