The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) has examined the consequences of global raw material extraction. According to the authors, worldwide demand for critical minerals needed for the energy transition and digital technologies—such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, copper, and nickel- is expected to roughly quadruple by 2050. For lithium, cobalt, and graphite in particular, increases of around 500 percent are projected. The report highlights a key concern: many of these resources are sourced from regions already facing severe water stress or widespread poverty. In response, the authors call for binding international standards, stricter environmental regulations, and the consistent development of a circular economy for batteries and electronic devices. Without fundamental reforms, they warn, the energy transition risks reinforcing existing inequalities. At present, the benefits of critical raw material extraction are said to accrue primarily to industrialized nations and to wealthy, politically privileged groups.
Read more: The consulting firm PwC also analyzed climate-related risks in raw material extraction in 2024.
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