The Geo-economic and Geopolitical Frontline of REEs: A Global Power Shift Leading to Growing Inequalities and Conflict

Global competition for natural resources and the need for balanced, responsible, and sustainable sourcing, exploitation, and use of raw materials emerge as a critical area of research amidst increasing pressures for economic growth, development and progress. The global sustainability agenda requires careful consideration of countries' economic and developmental needs. The aspiration for a potential global green energy transition needs to be supported by a comprehensive assessment of the resources that can contribute to the efficient development of renewable energies as countries shift from their heavy dependence on fossil fuels towards alternative and sustainable energy sources. The global economic transformation emerges as a very complex task due to worldwide overreliance on the planet's natural resources-fossil fuels-to support energy models. At the core of the energy transition process, rare earth elements have emerged as a source of fierce competition and pollution closely associated with growing levels of geo-economic imbalances and geopolitical conflict with significant potential to enhance poverty cycles. This chapter is supported by a systematic literature review that explores the need for a significant paradigm shift in countries' ongoing exploitation of natural resources to foster rapid economic growth. The growing competition between geo-economic and geopolitical interests emerges as the perfect catalyst for enhancing inequalities, wealth accumulation and conflict.