Complaint
In the final episode of this series, the presenter Misha Glenny argued there were two options if the human race was to survive climate change; the first to drastic alter our lifestyles and reduce our dependency on mineral sources, the second to sustain our present standard of living by ditching fossil for green energy based on rare earth metals, with political and environmental risks which cannot at present be calculated. A listener complained this ignored the potential of civil nuclear power to support our existing standard of living. The ECU considered whether the programme met ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ standards for due accuracy.Β Β
Outcome
This series looked at the global competition to control the production of minerals and rare earth metals, widely regarded as essential for future technologies. The final episode considered whether Russiaβs invasion of Ukraine may have been influenced by its desire to secure the natural resources found there. The programme reflected the view of those who think increased extraction of rare natural resources could result in environmental and ecological βhavocβ, and the view of others who believe improved regulation and environmental standards could prevent such an outcome.
In the ECUβs view Mr Glenny was suggesting we face a dilemma in addressing the causes of climate change. If we reduce the extraction and use of rare earths this will drastically alter our lifestyles because these metals and minerals are essential for the production of objects like the permanent magnets used in aircraft, cars, computers and smart phones. If we continue to use and develop products which use rare earths, such as electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems, this creates both political and environmental risks.
Mr Glenny was therefore talking about more than the generation of electricity; he was talking about products made using rare earths which have become a fundamental part of lifestyles in countries like the UK. The ECU did not agree therefore that the fact he did not refer to βcivil nuclear power generationβ would have misled the audience.
Not Upheld