Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GROUT (Governing ResOurce UrbanisaTion (GROUT): Multi-stakeholder governance of extractive industries in the era of planetary urbanisation)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-03-15 bis 2024-03-14
The primary objective of this fellowship was to explore governance dynamics in resource extraction within the context of the energy transition. As the demand for minerals essential to low-carbon infrastructure increases—known as green extractivism—pressure to extract resources is rising not only in Europe but also in regions like Australia, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. While addressing the energy transition is crucial, we risk repeating past mistakes by exacerbating regional and global inequalities through colonial relationships, resource dependency, and environmental, social, and cultural impacts.
This fellowship demonstrates that green extractivism is not a new phenomenon. To understand these dynamics, it was examined at different scales and historical moments. At the regional level, I investigated local transformations, challenges, and the roles of key actors like the ‘environmentally privileged,’ unions, and environmental groups in governing green extractivism in peri-urban areas.
At the global level, the fellowship focused on nickel and lithium mining to highlight the capital-driven impacts of the transition. To understand the persistence of this extractivist model, I developed the "mineralstate thesis," tracing the institutions and regulations that lock countries into a resource-dependent path, disregarding environmental, social, cultural, and economic consequences.
Building on gender and feminist studies, the fellowship promoted engaged, committed academic research that has policy and social impact and is co-produced with research subjects, not for them.
By critically analyzing the roots, mechanisms, and actors of green extractivism, the fellowship highlights the need for locally led governance models that move away from resource-led development. These include Indigenous, feminist, and ecosocial movements linked to the Green New Deal (GND), local groups defending land and water from extractivism, and the degrowth movement advocating for a just and democratic energy transition.
This fellowship demonstrates that green extractivism is not a new phenomenon. To understand these dynamics, it was examined at different scales and historical moments. At the regional level, I investigated local transformations, challenges, and the roles of key actors like the ‘environmentally privileged,’ unions, and environmental groups in governing green extractivism in peri-urban areas.
At the global level, the fellowship focused on nickel and lithium mining to highlight the capital-driven impacts of the transition. To understand the persistence of this extractivist model, I developed the "mineralstate thesis," tracing the institutions and regulations that lock countries into a resource-dependent path, disregarding environmental, social, cultural, and economic consequences.
Building on gender and feminist studies, the fellowship promoted engaged, committed academic research that has policy and social impact and is co-produced with research subjects, not for them.
By critically analyzing the roots, mechanisms, and actors of green extractivism, the fellowship highlights the need for locally led governance models that move away from resource-led development. These include Indigenous, feminist, and ecosocial movements linked to the Green New Deal (GND), local groups defending land and water from extractivism, and the degrowth movement advocating for a just and democratic energy transition.
During the outgoing phase of the fellowship, I analyzed the governance of green extractivism in peri-urban areas through case studies in the Hunter (north of Sydney) and Illawarra (south). In the Hunter, I observed two Multi-Stakeholder Processes (MSPs), particularly the Hunter Jobs Alliance (HJA), which reflects a shift toward shared environmental and workforce interests in green investments. In Illawarra, where such MSPs don’t exist, I organized the ‘HJA & Illawarra Workshop’ to facilitate learning and strategizing a just transition in the region. I also identified a puzzling trend of privileged Sydney residents moving to Illawarra for greener lifestyles, overlooking its pollution issues. This fellowship proposes using cultural psychology to understand the ‘green compromise’ these residents make, stressing the importance of the ‘environmentally privileged’ in the energy transition.
The fellowship also examined the governance of green extractivism at national and global levels, proposing a new framework for mineral governance. I developed the mineralstate thesis, tracing Australia’s history to highlight how institutions and regulations reinforce extractivism while neglecting environmental, social, and cultural impacts. This is especially relevant in the current wave of green extractivism, where new regulations (e.g. the Critical Raw Materials Act) prioritize resource extraction at the cost of economic, cultural, and environmental values.
I conducted two global comparative analyses; one explored the colonial and destructive aspects of green extractivism through nickel extraction in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Colombia, and with lithium mining in Europe. Another one explored the challenged local groups impacted by extractivism face when using environmental litigation to seek compensation or environmental remediation. Additionally, a Special Issue on the ‘Political Ecologies of the Green New Deal’ critiques the green extractivist colonialism embedded in mainstream GND plans.
Knowledge creation was advanced through four workshops focused on building collaborative networks and promoting engaged research. One workshop in the Hunter aimed to replicate union-environmental alliances, others at ICTA-UAB aimed to form academic and movement alliances, and a final workshop on planetary urbanization fostered interdisciplinary discussions.
In the incoming phase, I focused on disseminating the fellowship’s results. I published four papers, with two more forthcoming, in leading journals like Global Environmental Change and Political Geography, along with three book chapters, eight conference presentations, and four keynote seminars. I co-organized a parallel event at Raw Materials Week 2024 in Brussels, contributed to a report on Critical Raw Materials for the Spanish Government, and advised the Girona Municipality and Research and Degrowth coalition on post-growth transition policies. I produced a podcast featuring land defenders from Raw Materials Week, amplifying local opposition to green extractivism. As a Marie Curie Ambassador, I disseminated the project’s results through talks, summer schools, high school classes, the Catalan Science Week Festival, and the Jornada Ernest Lluch at Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
The exploitation of results led to the fulfillment of my Career Development Plan: I secured a Ramon y Cajal scholarship and started a new position at the GEO3BCN Institute (Spanish National Research Council, CSIC). I am establishing a research line, "Critical Social Studies on Geosciences," integrating social sciences and geosciences in resource governance.
The fellowship also examined the governance of green extractivism at national and global levels, proposing a new framework for mineral governance. I developed the mineralstate thesis, tracing Australia’s history to highlight how institutions and regulations reinforce extractivism while neglecting environmental, social, and cultural impacts. This is especially relevant in the current wave of green extractivism, where new regulations (e.g. the Critical Raw Materials Act) prioritize resource extraction at the cost of economic, cultural, and environmental values.
I conducted two global comparative analyses; one explored the colonial and destructive aspects of green extractivism through nickel extraction in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Colombia, and with lithium mining in Europe. Another one explored the challenged local groups impacted by extractivism face when using environmental litigation to seek compensation or environmental remediation. Additionally, a Special Issue on the ‘Political Ecologies of the Green New Deal’ critiques the green extractivist colonialism embedded in mainstream GND plans.
Knowledge creation was advanced through four workshops focused on building collaborative networks and promoting engaged research. One workshop in the Hunter aimed to replicate union-environmental alliances, others at ICTA-UAB aimed to form academic and movement alliances, and a final workshop on planetary urbanization fostered interdisciplinary discussions.
In the incoming phase, I focused on disseminating the fellowship’s results. I published four papers, with two more forthcoming, in leading journals like Global Environmental Change and Political Geography, along with three book chapters, eight conference presentations, and four keynote seminars. I co-organized a parallel event at Raw Materials Week 2024 in Brussels, contributed to a report on Critical Raw Materials for the Spanish Government, and advised the Girona Municipality and Research and Degrowth coalition on post-growth transition policies. I produced a podcast featuring land defenders from Raw Materials Week, amplifying local opposition to green extractivism. As a Marie Curie Ambassador, I disseminated the project’s results through talks, summer schools, high school classes, the Catalan Science Week Festival, and the Jornada Ernest Lluch at Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
The exploitation of results led to the fulfillment of my Career Development Plan: I secured a Ramon y Cajal scholarship and started a new position at the GEO3BCN Institute (Spanish National Research Council, CSIC). I am establishing a research line, "Critical Social Studies on Geosciences," integrating social sciences and geosciences in resource governance.
The findings of my research resonate with local groups, policymakers, think tanks, and NGOs advocating for a sustainable, equitable energy transition. By emphasizing environmental, social, and cultural considerations in energy and mineral extraction projects, my work supports those fighting for fairer resource governance.
In Australia, I’ve collaborated with NGOs and grassroots organizations, providing strategic insights to move away from the mineralstate paradigm.
At the European level, I’ve partnered with advocacy groups in Brussels such as the European Environmental Bureau. Together, we are pushing for resource use limits and regulations in the Critical Raw Materials Act, and advocating for policies prioritizing social and environmental concerns. I have co-produced some of these results with local groups like Plataforma Salvemos la Montaña de Cáceres, the Yes to Life No to Mining network, and the ‘Right to Say No’ network' and ‘Research and Degrowth’
I launched the ‘Movements and Academia’ Alliance, connecting local groups impacted by green extractivism with committed researchers producing science that supports these struggles.
Overall, my research and collaborative efforts aim to foster an equitable energy transition and empower communities globally.
In Australia, I’ve collaborated with NGOs and grassroots organizations, providing strategic insights to move away from the mineralstate paradigm.
At the European level, I’ve partnered with advocacy groups in Brussels such as the European Environmental Bureau. Together, we are pushing for resource use limits and regulations in the Critical Raw Materials Act, and advocating for policies prioritizing social and environmental concerns. I have co-produced some of these results with local groups like Plataforma Salvemos la Montaña de Cáceres, the Yes to Life No to Mining network, and the ‘Right to Say No’ network' and ‘Research and Degrowth’
I launched the ‘Movements and Academia’ Alliance, connecting local groups impacted by green extractivism with committed researchers producing science that supports these struggles.
Overall, my research and collaborative efforts aim to foster an equitable energy transition and empower communities globally.