Environmental and social consequences of mineral extraction for low-carbon technologies: Cobalt, lithium and nickel extraction, impacts and relation to the SDGs

Abstract

Moving towards a sustainable future requires substantial upscaling of low-carbon technologies, many of which rely heavily on key critical minerals. To be in line with the Paris agreement, the International Energy Agency estimates demand for minerals to quadruple by 2040. Demand for cobalt, lithium and nickel is expected to see the largest growth, due to their use for batteries in the rapidly growing electric vehicle market. In this report we address the extraction of these three minerals, their extraction processes along with their social and environmental consequences. We highlight some supply risks and current policies and initiatives related to the extraction process of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We also explore the supply risks and geopolitical considerations regarding the high concentration of mineral processing in China. Lastly, we show the connection between the social and environmental consequences and the UN's sustainability development goals (SDGs).