Problem
Fossil fuels (coal, gas, and oil) are made of carbon and hydrogen and are thus called hydrocarbons. Energy is generated from fossil fuels by burning them which oxidizes the hydrocarbon producing oxidized carbon, dominantly carbon dioxide (CO2). The scientific consensus is that the climate is changing and it's caused predominantly by human-sourced carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
To mitigate the impact of climate change, ideally, we would switch to low-carbon energy sources. This is easier said than done. As of 2019, fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) are used to produce 62.6% of the electricity generated in the United States. Our other sources of electricity are derived from nuclear (19.6%) and renewable (17.6%) sources. In other words, if we stopped using fossil fuels today we would not have enough energy for society to function and the energy grid would collapse.
After watching the "Mining Our Way to a Low Carbon Future" video, what do you feel is the best path towards a low-carbon energy source?
Task
1) Which minerals or metals are critical for a low-carbon future?
2) What evidence do you have that this mineral/metal is important?
3) Is operating a mine to retrieve those critical minerals/metals better for the environment than continuing to burn fossil fuels? Note: Saying no to mining means society will continue to burn fossil fuels - worsening climate change.