Who bears environmental cost of push for rare earths beyond China?

EnvironmentAustralia aims for responsible approach, but cleaner production may mean higher pricesWastewater from a rare-earth refining facility in China's Inner Mongolia is discharged into a nearby lake. © ReutersSUBARU TANAKAAugust 22, 2026 10:01 JSTTOKYO -- As Australia looks to become a responsible supplier of rare earths as an alternative to China, the matter of whether buyers will share the cost of minimizing the industry's significant environmental impact remains an open question.Read NextLatest on Environment