2 publishers · first seen Tue, 27 Oct 2026 17:53 UTC · updated Wed, 28 Oct 2026 02:05 UTC
German photographer Tom Hegen has spent six years documenting the environmental, social, and geopolitical impacts of mining regions around the world that supply critical minerals for the energy transition. His new book, The Mineral Age, features aerial images capturing the landscapes and communities affected by mineral extraction. Hegen emphasizes that while transitioning to renewable energy is essential, it comes with significant environmental and social costs, and no energy source is entirely without consequences. The book aims to raise awareness about the hidden costs of the energy transition and the need for more sustainable and equitable practices.
Hegen's work highlights the concentration of critical minerals in a few countries, creating new geopolitical dependencies and vulnerabilities. His photographs reveal the extensive industrial processes and extraction of finite resources required for renewable technologies, prompting questions about who bears the costs of this shift. Hegen's project underscores the complexity of the energy transition and the importance of considering the broader impacts of our technological progress and reliance on critical minerals.
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