Big miners like BHP dream of unlimited profits in Green-topia - when we all drive electric vehicles charged by non-coal electricity. Imagine the metals and energy needed to build all those electric motors, batteries, charging stations, power leads, transmission lines, wind towers, solar farms, generators, transformers, gas pipelines and back-up power stations.
Demand and prices for copper, aluminium, nickel, cobalt, lithium, rare earths, lead, titanium, silicon, uranium, steel, coking coal and gas will soar.
No wonder BHP, the big Australian miner who produces many of these commodities, has conveniently joined the war on thermal coal and now wears garish green lipstick.
Viv Forbes