Geologists of Jackson Hole's video: Moving towards a sustainable future

Metals are required to get there. Presented by Adam Simon, University of Michigan. In order to build a carbon-neutral energy infrastructure, society must wean itself completely from the primary energy sources coal, oil and natural gas and replace them with carbon-free energy sources for both electricity and transportation. In addition to the technological advances necessary for such a transition, a carbon-neutral world requires a significant increase in the production of metals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel and rare earth elements that are needed to generate, transport and store energy for base load and peaking power. A major assumption of all carbon-neutral pledges is a readily available supply of the metal resources required to transition from fossil fuels to renewables such as solar, wind, tidal and on-demand battery storage. Such a resource supply is not guaranteed. This talk will provide the audience with an understanding of mineral exploration for the resources necessary for a carbon-neutral infrastructure and whether or not the timeline for discovery and production of these resources aligns with proposed dates for achieving carbon neutrality.