A insustentável leveza do capitalismo globalizado e a sustentável austereza do socioambientalismo: uma confrontação socioambiental e político-econômica entre o mercado de lítio e o desenvolvimento sustentável brasileiro

Abstract

This research aims to carry out a socio-environmental and political-economic analysis of the electric and lithium vehicle markets in the context of the energy transition. To this end, the phenomenon of globalization will be scrutinized, from its origins, as it is the context that made the international discussion on the “green” revolution possible, and then the role of the state in this process. We then move on to investigate the energy transition, from climate change due to global warming to the use of fossil fuels in the automotive sector - to this end, the author takes a historical look at the data, from the beginning of globalization to the present day, to demonstrate the dichotomy between globalized capitalism and environmental sustainability. He also examines the socio-environmental issues related to mining in general and then the Vale do Lítio project, located in the Jequitinhonha Valley. To this end, I will examine the “green” promises made by the mining company Sigma Lithium, the main player in the Valley, which describes innovative mining and uses expressions such as “triple zero”, “quintuple zero”, “sustainable mining”, “green mining” and “green lithium”. Finally, I undertake a historical, geopolitical and geo-economic review of Latin American experiences with the lithium market in order to assess ways of ensuring sustainable regional and national development through the mineral wealth of Jequitinhonhense through the lens of constitutional socio-environmentalism.