A green future is on the horizon! We will drive electric cars, solar panels will shimmer on our rooftops, and picturesque fields and meadows will be complemented by wind turbines gently spinning, almost as if to tell us, “There will be enough clean energy for everyone.”
It’s easy to fall in love with this romantic picture. Just imagine – no more air pollution, no more traffic noise, electricity bills getting lower, and the standard of living improving.
But will this romanticized picture elude us?
We know that energy transition is impossible without the key raw materials used in the production of batteries, solar panels, wind turbines… The demand for lithium, cobalt, and other precious resources has skyrocketed after the world market cried out for green technologies.
Thus, mining has gained a new dimension and is now among the key players in the game for climate neutrality. However, when mining is in play, ecology must not be benched.
A new study published by researchers from the University of Cambridge warns us that mining activities “in the service of the energy transition,” as well as oil and gas extraction, threaten the survival of 4,642 species of vertebrates and many more invertebrates and plants.
The greatest risk to species comes from mining materials fundamental to our transition to clean energy. These mines are often located in the world’s most valuable biodiversity hotspots, which are unique habitats for many species on the planet.
Moreover, the threat to nature is not limited to the physical locations of mines. Species living far away can also be affected by polluted waterways or deforestation, which is used to construct necessary roads and other infrastructure.
Among all vertebrate species, fish (up to 2,053) are particularly at risk from mining, followed by reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The level of threat seems to be related to where a species lives and its way of life: species inhabiting freshwater habitats and those with small ranges are particularly endangered.
New mines will undoubtedly be opened, and it is up to us to choose what is more important—accelerated energy transition or the protection of nature and species.
Although countries generally impose stricter environmental criteria on the entire industry, including mining, I wouldn’t rely too much on that. In critical raw materials, many countries and companies see a unique opportunity for economic growth, and it is clear that all those environmental protection measures significantly reduce the productivity of mines.
Some might say that the destruction of nature and the loss of certain species is the price we must pay to finally rid ourselves of fossil fuels and step into a greener future. After all, humans have always cleared forests for expanding cities and agriculture, so why should mines be an exception?
But this must not be our excuse. If we are already talking about a green future, we must be better than the generations that brought the planet to the boiling point.
We will never overcome the climate crisis if we continue to destroy nature and biodiversity. Moreover, long-term mining for energy transition could put us in an even worse situation than fossil fuels.
Therefore, if we must choose between mines and nature – let’s choose carefully.
