Rare earth mining is big business for countries with reserves, such as Malaysia, which has an estimated 16.1 billion tonnes of subterranean rare earth deposits. Rare earths are essential for green technology and climate goals, but their extraction and processing can cause environmental and social impacts. Malaysia aims to balance the economic benefits and environmental costs of rare earth mining, and to ensure transparency and accountability in the industry - but how? What are the challenges of rare earth mining? This, and plenty more are explored in Macaranga's recently published article, Unlocking Rare Earth Riches in Malaysia, co-written by environmental journalist Lee Kwai Han, and Macaranga's co-founder, Law Yao Hua. 

They join us to discuss the ethical and social implications of rare earth mining and consumption.

Rare earth mining is big business for countries with reserves, such as Malaysia, which has an estimated 16.1 billion tonnes of subterranean rare earth deposits. Rare earths are essential for green technology and climate goals, but their extraction and processing can cause environmental and social impacts. Malaysia aims to balance the economic benefits and environmental costs of rare earth mining, and to ensure transparency and accountability in the industry - but how? What are the challenges of rare earth mining? This, and plenty more are explored in Macaranga's recently published article, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.macaranga.org/unlocking-rare-earth-riches-in-malaysia/">Unlocking Rare Earth Riches in Malaysia</a>, co-written by environmental journalist Lee Kwai Han, and Macaranga's co-founder, Law Yao Hua.&nbsp;They join us to discuss the ethical and social implications of rare earth mining and consumption.

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

Earth Matters

The Potential and Pitfalls of Rare Earth Mining

Despite being home to some of the world’s most unique species, Malaysia ranks 106th on the 2024 Nature Conservation Index (NCI), underscoring both its rich biodiversity, and the many risks it faces. The index, which evaluates conservation efforts globally, points to challenges like land management, invasive species, and climate change as key areas for improvement. We speak to biologist Chrishen Gomez from Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, to discuss the NCI’s methodology and findings, and what Malaysia’s rank indicates for its nature conservation efforts.



Image credit: Shutterstock

Despite being home to some of the world’s most unique species, Malaysia ranks 106th on the 2024 Nature Conservation Index (NCI), underscoring both its rich biodiversity, and the many risks it faces. The index, which evaluates conservation efforts globally, points to challenges like land management, invasive species, and climate change as key areas for improvement. We speak to biologist Chrishen Gomez from Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, to discuss the NCI’s methodology and findings, and what Malaysia’s rank indicates for its nature conservation efforts.Image credit: Shutterstock

What is the Nature Conservation Index?

In Kuching, outdated drainage infrastructure and rapid urbanisation have exacerbated flash flooding, leaving residents vulnerable and frequently facing severe property damage and safety risks. Persistent heavy rainfall, worsened by climate change, causes rivers to swell and drains to overflow, inundating homes, cars, and streets. For locals living there, flooding is a recurring crisis, disrupting lives, destroying belongings, and even bringing wildlife hazards into urban areas. While government efforts are underway to improve drainage systems, experts and flood management researchers urge a more comprehensive approach that includes sustainable urban planning, updated infrastructure, and accessible flood data to better prepare for the city’s evolving environmental challenges. All this and more are explored in Macaranga's latest article, Fighting Floods with Better Drainage in Kuching, and we discuss the research and findings on this with Liani MK, a contributing writer with Macaranga who wrote the piece, Wong Siew Lyn, Editor, Macaranga, and Dr Charles Bong, a hydrology and urban drainage management researcher, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).



Image credit: Arieff Zafir (via Macaranga.org)

In Kuching, outdated drainage infrastructure and rapid urbanisation have exacerbated flash flooding, leaving residents vulnerable and frequently facing severe property damage and safety risks. Persistent heavy rainfall, worsened by climate change, causes rivers to swell and drains to overflow, inundating homes, cars, and streets. For locals living there, flooding is a recurring crisis, disrupting lives, destroying belongings, and even bringing wildlife hazards into urban areas. While government efforts are underway to improve drainage systems, experts and flood management researchers urge a more comprehensive approach that includes sustainable urban planning, updated infrastructure, and accessible flood data to better prepare for the city’s evolving environmental challenges. All this and more are explored in Macaranga's latest article, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.macaranga.org/fighting-floods-with-better-drainage-in-kuching/">Fighting Floods with Better Drainage in Kuching</a>, and we discuss the research and findings on this with Liani MK, a contributing writer with Macaranga who wrote the piece, Wong Siew Lyn, Editor, Macaranga, and Dr Charles Bong, a hydrology and urban drainage management researcher, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).Image credit: Arieff Zafir (via Macaranga.org)

Better Drainage in the Fight Against Floods

The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), will take place from the 11th to the 22nd November 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Described as a "pivotal opportunity to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis" what are the key focus areas for these talks, and what's at stake? We chat with Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, to discuss this and more.



Image credit: Shutterstock

The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), will take place from the 11th to the 22nd November 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Described as a "pivotal opportunity to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis" what are the key focus areas for these talks, and what's at stake? We chat with Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, to discuss this and more.Image credit: Shutterstock

The Potential and Pitfalls of Rare Earth Mining

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