Abstract: The energy transition has created a global rush for critical minerals that are indispensable for the manufacturing of “green” technology, such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines. Critical minerals are predominantly mined, however, on land that is proximate to vulnerable communities, and in developing countries. The environmental toll imposed by mining thus incurs locally and immediately to such communities, while the benefits of the green transition are long-term and global. How do citizens in those mineral-rich countries evaluate the complicated trade-offs of mining for critical minerals? Mining projects for green technology inputs have in many instances stalled over public protests related to local environmental damages. We ask to what extent do the global environmental benefits of mining’s contribution to decarbonization offset some of these concerns? Are citizens willing to compensate the (indigenous) communities where mining takes place with a share of the government mining revenue? How do nationalism and geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China affect support for mining projects? We answer these questions using a pre-registered conjoint survey experiment in Argentina, which is rich in lithium. We find that concerns over local environmental damages are by far the most important attribute that determines preferences, although a mine’s utility for green technology modestly increases support. Argentine citizens with stronger pro-environmentalist attitudes are more opposed to lithium mining, but respondents are less willing to redistribute tax revenues to local communities when they are informed that the community is indigenous. Finally, Argentinians prefer ownership by the national state-owned company (YPF), while preferences for Chinese or North American ownership are affected by partisanship, and consistently opposed to Chinese ownership.
Moderator: Stephen Chaudoin