By Fermín Koop.

Since the energy sector accounts for 75.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the rapid adoption of renewable energy technologies is essential in the fight against climate change.

In 2024, global renewable energy capacity grew by 15.1%, reaching an all-time high. That same year, electric car sales rose by 25%, capturing 20% of the market for the first time.

A specific group of minerals, known as critical minerals, are essential materials in the production of these technologies. Copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements are seeing increasing demand as the energy transition accelerates.

Most of these minerals are extracted through terrestrial mining, though in Latin America some countries have begun offshore exploration, often met with strong public opposition. Other minerals, while not directly linked to renewable energy, remain part of the region’s broader extractive landscape.

For environmental reporters, this scenario presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Covering critical minerals requires weighing the promise of renewable energy against the risks of new extractive frontiers. Journalists are called to look beyond the “green growth” narrative and examine whether the chosen pathways truly deliver a just and sustainable future.