The following article focuses on the consequences of lithium mining on an ecological, economical, and social level.
Electric transportation, video calls instead of flying to conferences, and other electronic alternatives seem to be the solution to our supposedly green future. However, let's examine the source of these electronic devices: lithium mining. We need lithium for our batteries, and it is present in almost every electronic device. While lithium may seem like the source of hope for our future, there are serious concerns that must be considered. This article focuses on the consequences of lithium mining on ecological, economical, and social levels.
“They are taking everything away from us. These lands are ancestral. We live by this. By the fields. By our cattle. This way of life is in danger.” ~Carlos Guzman, age 44, an indigenous inhabitant expressing apprehension about pollution and water utilization caused by the lithium mines
Most lithium mining is shipped to us from foreign countries, mainly from China, Argentina, Chile, and Australia. Geography classes paid off, as you surely noticed that none of these countries are anywhere close to the U.S. This leads to problem number one: the supposedly CO2-reducing solution is being shipped to us from miles away. Additionally, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology raises awareness that for every tonne of mined lithium, 15 tonnes of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere.
Aside from carbon emissions, lithium mining, like most mining processes, erodes ecosystems. We're not just referring to climate change; we're talking about air and water pollution, land degradation, and potential groundwater contamination, as listed by Earth.org. According to Euronews, 5.5 million gallons of water per day are pumped from the ground for lithium mining, eroding ecosystems due to water scarcity and causing deforestation and the use of prior farmland for mining bases. As electronic devices become increasingly crucial in today's culture, lithium mining industries are growing, leading to further harm to the environment.
This is not only harmful to the environment but also to the people living in areas near lithium mines. Their resources and culture are eroding due to unavoidable jobs in the mining companies. When mining companies take away your farm, you have no choice but to work for them, losing not only your land but also your traditional knowledge, practices, former trading ties, and businesses. People in these mining areas are now dependent on their jobs in lithium mines since mining companies are the only option left.
The increasing number of lithium mining companies in underdeveloped countries creates a dependency on lithium. This becomes problematic if the country exhausts its lithium reserves or if other countries using lithium switch trading partners. In such scenarios, these countries would have no alternative source for their economy, as many of their people have transitioned from their former jobs to work in lithium mining.
Alex Losada-Calderon, general manager of the lithium company Sales de Jujuy, is quoted by the Washington Post saying, "There is no resistance. From the very beginning, we worked very, very closely with the local community." However, Carlos Guzman, 44, an indigenous inhabitant expressing apprehension about pollution and water utilization caused by the lithium mines, says, "They are taking everything away from us. These lands are ancestral. We live by this. By the fields. By our cattle. This way of life is in danger." Similarly, Luisa Jorge, a figure in Susques, a village neighboring mines, complains that "We know the lithium companies are taking millions of dollars from our lands. The companies are conscious of this. And we know they ought to give something back. But they’re not."
Cobalt mining, also used for electric devices, has bad environmental causes, too, but even worse social aspects. The Guardian writes that mines put children as young as seven years old to work. "There they breathe in cobalt-laden dust that can cause fatal lung ailments while working tunnels that are liable to collapse." The Washington Post reports that workers, including children, are occasionally required to toil in dangerous and harsh circumstances to meet the growing demand for cobalt worldwide. Testimonies from workers, government representatives, and information acquired by The Washington Post suggest that around 100,000 cobalt miners in Congo rely on manual labor, excavating deep underground with simple equipment, with no oversight and safety safeguards. Tragically, they also note that "Deaths and injuries are common. And the mining activity exposes local communities to levels of toxic metals that appear to be linked to ailments that include breathing problems and birth defects, health officials say."
Fortunately, some companies consider these consequences, like Toyota, who stated that even though they don't buy lithium directly, they actively work to lessen the impact that their suppliers have on nearby communities, "and we will ask our suppliers to take actions to avoid using certain materials if there is a concern about the source." Apple also replied to a question from the Washington Post, stating that Apple is dedicated to upholding high standards, ethical material sourcing, and human rights. Major lithium manufacturers will be subjected to on-site assessments to determine compliance, and non-compliant suppliers will be eliminated from their supply chain. Their commitment to raising standards and protecting the environment extends across their supply chain. However, Samsung has not responded to repeated questions from the Post, and Tesla did not clarify from which companies they gain their lithium.
In Germany, geologist and geothermal energy expert Thomas Kölbl is researching ethical mining alternatives. He focuses on locally extracting lithium from extremely salty thermal water in the Upper Rhine Graben. The water's high temperature and intense pressure allow it to remain in liquid form even as it rises from the depths at up to 257 degrees Fahrenheit. Though the water is redirected underground with no losses, its excessive salinity prevents legal discharge into surface water bodies. Dr. Kölbl's main aim is to develop strategies for extracting lithium from this hot water, providing a sustainable alternative.
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