China has controlled the supply of a group of rare earth minerals that are essential for its factories, which develop everyday items like smartphones, TV screens and electric cars. This comes at a grave environmental cost.

Bayan Obo Mining District

China holds a dominant position in the global supply and processing of rare earth minerals, which are crucial for manufacturing products such as smartphones, TV screens, and electric vehicles. This dominance is supported by extensive mining operations, especially in Inner Mongolia, where large-scale extraction has led to environmental degradation, including radioactive waste and toxic chemical contamination.

Local communities have been affected, with reports of health issues and displacement due to mining activities. While the Chinese government is attempting to address some of the environmental damage, concerns remain about illegal land acquisition and the long-term impacts on both people and the landscape. The global reliance on China's rare earth minerals has prompted other countries to seek alternative sources, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with rare earth mining worldwide.

China pays high environmental price for rare earth minerals dominance

These dust clouds are rising from deep craters in Inner Mongolia, where the earth's crust has been sliced away over decades. The rocks are pulverised to find valuable minerals known as rare earths. China has a tight grip on the world's supply of rare earth minerals. They're at the largest mine in the world, they've even fenced it off so that you cannot get any access. But not only is this causing trade tension with the United States, it's also coming at a huge environmental cost. The radioactive waste has been drained into vast man-made lakes, some of it seeping into the ground. Local villagers were moved after reports of cancer clusters and birth defects. In China's southern mining hub, the sites are smaller. Pools of toxic chemicals used to separate the metals dot nearly every hillside. The government is trying to mitigate the damage. But one local farmer accuses the mining company of causing landslides and grabbing land illegally. There is no ideal solution. Someone is always going to get hurt. Farmers like us, we are the vulnerable ones. It's pretty tragic. I really think it's tragic. We are being filmed. There are three of them coming to film us. Our interview is interrupted. They've blocked the car in. And men who claim to work for the mine block our car from leaving. They also confront the farmer. Why do you need so many people here? It took three hours to talk them into letting us go. We asked the company for a statement, but it refused. China doesn't just mine rare earths, it processes 90% of the world's supply. Large cities have grown up around the industry, employing tens of thousands. There are still some who make a small living from the land. There used to be Mongolian families living back there. The elders passed away and the younger ones moved to the city to work. The rare earths companies bought our pastures and we got paid. Traces of this region's past still exist. The world relies on China's rare earth minerals, but the US and others are racing to secure their own supplies. Unless lessons are learned, no matter where they're mined, landscapes and lives will be put at risk. Laura Bicker, ABC News, Bayan Obo.

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Ahmedabad

Air India crash report shows confusion over engine switch movement

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike kills children near medical clinic in Gaza

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia launches more strikes, damages Ukraine maternity hospital

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu returns to Israel without Gaza ceasefire deal

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Camarillo

Protesters clash with ICE agents over immigration operation

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Washington

Global Tariffs

Trump targets Brazil with 50% tariff

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Center Point

Urgent search operations for flood victims stretch miles in Texas

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Trump puts 35% tariff on Canada, eyes 15%-20% levies for others

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Texas

Volunteers dig through Texas flood wreckage ahead of Trump visit

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Kuala Lumpur

Top U.S., Russia diplomats discuss Ukraine on ASEAN sidelines

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Russia’s upgraded drone tactics bring intensified attacks across Ukraine

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Ventura County

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Judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order

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Los Angeles

31 trapped workers rescued after tunnel collapse

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Rubio: New Russia sanctions a ‘real option’

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Trump muses missile defence system for Ukraine

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Texas officials to address flood warnings after search complete

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San Francisco

Yaccarino steps down as CEO of Elon Musk's X

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Moscow

Trump calls out Putin for stalled peace talks

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Five African leaders have lunch with Trump

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Kerr County

Recovery operations ongoing in Texas as more than 160 still missing

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Trump sends tariff letters to six more countries

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Sana'a

Houthi rebels claim responsibility for attack on ship in Red Sea

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Top European court rules Russia violated international law in Ukraine

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Texas flood death toll hits triple digits, tally of missing tops 180

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Trump questioned over report saying Epstein didn't have client list

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Ontario

Trump threatens 50% tariff on copper imports

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Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods

Hundreds of firefighters battled a fast-moving wildfire that reached the outskirts of the southern French city of Marseille on Tuesday, forcing people to stay indoors and the nearby airport to close.

Marseille

France wildfire shuts down Marseille airport

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