From fossil colonialism to renewable colonialism? A critical conversation about the energy transition we want

We briefly introduce the dynamics of fossil colonialism to jump into discussing how renewable energy alternatives reproduce similar colonial patterns. Mineral reserves from the global South are taken for granted in the greening of energy used in the global North, while selling the idea that this represents a development opportunity for raw material exporting countries. The workshop proposes a critical look into the patterns of extraction and trade of selected critical minerals that play a key role in renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels (e.g.: copper, lithium, cobalt), introducing cases in Latin America and Africa. We invite participants to engage with concepts used by activists and academics in the frontline of decolonial approaches to climate change mitigation (green sacrifice zones, fossil+, cost-shifting). We ask: “Who pays the price for the energy transition?” and explore what kind of solutions can truly commit to global justice.