US EditionDemand for Lithium Strains Water Resources
- A new study published in Communications Earth and Environment reveals that lithium mining may significantly strain water sources in the Lithium Triangle of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, which is critical for local communities.
- The study indicates that 27 out of 28 basins in the region should be classified as 'critically water scarce,' causing ecological concerns as lithium demand surges by nearly 500% in upcoming decades.
- The extraction process, which consumes significant water resources, threatens local ecosystems and Indigenous communities, including the Lickanantay in Chile, facing worsening drought and cultural disruption.
- Local leaders and environmental groups are demanding better regulations and water rights, highlighting the environmental and ethical dilemmas of lithium mining amid global shifts towards electric vehicles.
4 Articles
4 Articles
Demand for Lithium Strains Water Resources
While lithium has a starring role in the global clean energy transition thanks to its fundamental importance in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage, the “white gold” may be as much of an environmental threat as it is a savior. Extraction processes for the metal are associated with significant negative environmental externalities and public health risks, and now scientists are questioning whether the world can spare the vast amount…
Conservation news
ecotopical.comLithium Triangle mining may strain water sources more than expected, study says
Global demand for lithium is expected to increase by nearly 500% over the next few decades, as countries invest more in batteries and electric vehicles meant to reduce their carbon footprint. But lithium also brings its own environmental concerns, putting stress on freshwater supplies in the desert areas where the mineral is most common. Measuring water availability for lithium extraction is still unreliable, especially in South America’s high-a…
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