Class Year
2011
Document Type
Feature
Publication Date
2011
Abstract
As the global market faces the challenge of responding to climate change, including how to convert to a green economy that uses renewable resources, it is critical to examine domestic and international legal frameworks implicated at various points in the life cycle of metallic ore resources employed in “clean” or “green” technology. Although the products themselves may or may not be environmentally-sound because of their source production or their transformation into waste at the end of their life, consumer demand for the green labeling will continue to drive the production of such technology. International law and policy frameworks must take into account the consequences of environmental “solutions” by negotiating protective measures against the pollution created at various stages of the life cycle of these metals and creating incentives to induce responsible trade practices to prevent a “race to the bottom” by governments willing to mine, process, and ultimately dispose of spent materials.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Winfield J. "The Lurking Costs of Green Technology Metals in a Global Market." Sustainable Development Law & Policy 11, no. 3 (2011): 14, 38-39.