Editorial: La Vanguardia

• The Generalitat has initiated surveys to detect rare earths, essential minerals for digital technology, in Catalan territory.
• Though early results are encouraging, they face social and ecological resistance due to potential contaminations and harm to biodiversity.
• These surveys have discovered geological formations with potential resources in a wide area of the coastline and pre-coastline.
• The European Commission has classified 47 minerals, including rare earths, as essential for facing the new technological revolution.
• More than 60% of the rare earths needed by the technological industry in the world and 85% of their processing come from China.
• The Junta de Castilla-La Mancha has rejected the most important project for the exploitation of rare earths in Europe due to the protection of the lynx and biodiversity.

Conclusion: The prospecting of rare earths in Catalonia encounters resistance due to environmental and social concerns, however, it is crucial for Europe's technological future and energy sovereignty.

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