Postfossil extractivism. A new lens on decarbonization's land and material intensity
Abstract
The policies currently driving decarbonization generate additional demands for raw materials such as lithium, copper, rare earths, and biomass while also requiring huge amounts of energy. Since energy is to be generated predominantly or exclusively from renewable sources, and because renewables have a much lower energy density than coal or oil, decarbonization is accompanied by an immense demand for land and the transformation of rural landscapes. This article proposes a post-fossil lens on extractivism to grasp the contested and contradictory character of the ongoing transformation, which is expected to increase the valuation of territories in the Global South.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Extractivism and Socioeconomic Issues
Mining and Resource Management
Agriculture
Land Use
Rural Development
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Journal of Peasant Studies
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1263–1286
- Publication date
- 28 January 2026
- Language
- EN