Extraction Behind the Green Transition—With Thea Riofrancos
Danny and Derek welcome back to the show political scientist Thea Riofrancos to talk about the politics of extraction in the global energy transition.
A pumpjack near Driscoll, Texas, US, on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
(Eddie Seal / Bloomberg via Getty Images)Danny and Derek welcome back to the show political scientist Thea Riofrancos to talk about the politics of extraction in the global energy transition. They explore the contradictions of green capitalism, the debate over degrowth and abundance, China’s role in lithium battery production, the history of lithium batteries, green industrial policy, U.S. oil and gas power, popular resistance to data centers and mining, where the Global South falls in renewable supply chains, and the environmental costs of green development.
Be sure to grab a copy of Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism.
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