Saving the Climate Without Wrecking the Planet
Mining for the energy transition
This year’s students in subject 12.000 Solving Complex Problems were tasked with the following problem:
The transition to a carbon-neutral economy depends on the availability of lithium and copper. Both elements are found in abundance in the western U.S. and northern Chile, but mining has substantial local impacts, including on Indigenous communities. Your task will be to determine how much can be produced sustainably from these regions every year, balancing global demand with environmental impact and equity.
The students presented their proposals in a final website and in a presentation on December 4, 2024.
The presentation can be viewed at the following link: https://web.mit.edu/webcast/terrascope2028/
The Terrascope Class of 2028 presented their findings and recommendations to a distinguished panel including:
- James Blair, Professor of Geography & Anthropology, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- Kate Berry, Professor of Geography at the University of Nevada, Reno
- Ethan Dunbar, Mayor of Lewisville, Arkansas
- Jessica Dunn, Senior Analyst, Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists
- Saskia Duyvesteyn, Chief Advisor for Research and Development at Rio Tinto
- John Hadder, Director, Great Basin Resource Watch