Modern technology and conflicts
6.12. 2017
JAKUB DRMOLA
Climate, energy and resources

Climate change
-extinctions are historical norm
-99% of all species
-most often due to climate changes
-usually triggered by volcanic activity
-planet will survive, life and people will too

-geopolitics of climate change
-lack of food and water
-countries cannot adapt
-migration and conflicts as a result
-all countries to be impacted
-“lifeboat” countries?









Arctic
Image result for arctic melting resources map
-new maritime routes
-new resources
-new farm land
-
-new conflict?

Geo-engineering
-influencing climate change intentionally
-+ unintentional effects of pollution
-the goal is to slow climate change down
-
-usually through increasing albedo (reflectivity)
-SRM - Solar Radiation Management
-aerosol dispersal, buildings and engineering
-risk of unilateral actions and dependence

-or “carbon capture” technology
-artificial/organic

Energy sources
-buried sunshine(87%)
-sunshine as biomass (7%)
-sunshine as wind/heat (4%)
-geothermal + nuclear fission (2%)

-storing energy is still an issue
-consumption is and always will be growing

-nuclear fusion as savior?
-ITER, 2030?, $20 000 000 000

Image result for sidoarjo mud flow gif
Extracting buried sunshine


Coltan
-mined for niobium and tantalum content (capacitors)
-pretty much in all modern electronics
-circa 60% from Central Africa
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPIB17PE2vM

-“resource curse”, cause of conflict
-fuels slavery and civil war
-destroys environment too

REE mining
 - 90% coming from single mining complex in Baotou, Northern China
 - cerium, neodymium, yttrium, terbium, scandium, dysprosium, …

 - devastating to environment
 - geopolitical tool for China
 - other possible deposits?
◦Afganistán, DPRK …

Image result for Bayanobo Mining District lake
https://www.bu.edu/cas/magazine/spring16/elements-of-conflict/42-26478679.jpg