The race for critical minerals essential for renewable technologies is expected to escalate in 2025 as Western nations seek to diminish their dependency on Chinese supply chains. Demand for lithium, cobalt, and nickel is projected to nearly triple by 2030. However, this rush poses environmental and social challenges in mineral-rich countries, necessitating careful attention to local communities’ rights and ecosystems.
The critical race for minerals vital for renewable technologies is projected to intensify in 2025 as nations in Europe and North America aim to curb their dependence on China. The International Energy Agency indicates that demand for ‘net zero’ minerals will nearly triple by 2030, leading to increased mining activities for lithium, cobalt, and nickel in countries like Chile and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mineral-rich countries are striving to secure a fair return from this global green rush, highlighting the pressing environmental and social impacts on local communities. At the recent COP29 climate talks, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned against a potential “stampede of greed” that could exacerbate poverty in resource-rich regions.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, which possesses half of the global reserves of cobalt, Chinese firms dominate the mining sector. The region, rich in resources estimated at $24 trillion, is plagued by conflict with over 120 armed groups competing for control of mines, often at the expense of local communities’ safety and well-being.
Chile, recognized for its vast lithium reserves, is facing scrutiny due to unsustainable mining practices that threaten water supplies and ecosystems. The government aims to nationalize the lithium sector and adopt sustainable extraction methods while engaging with Indigenous communities. A national minerals strategy is anticipated in 2025, including an investment of $83 billion until 2033.
Brazil is encountering rising mining operations that conflict with Indigenous rights and biodiversity in the Amazon. Recent reports highlighted 348 disputes between small-scale farmers and mining firms from 2020 to 2023. In 2025, Brazil plans to further explore its lithium resources amid escalated mining activities.
The Philippines is experiencing a surge in nickel mining driven by the electric vehicle industry, endangering biodiversity and Indigenous land rights. Approximately one-fifth of the nation is under mining projects, with significant portions overlapping protected areas. Indigenous populations have lost considerable ancestral lands due to mining, necessitating a reevaluation of policies protecting their rights and territories.
The global mineral race for sustainable technologies, particularly regarding lithium, cobalt, and nickel, is gaining momentum as Western nations aim to decrease reliance on Chinese imports. The International Energy Agency’s projections indicate a substantial increase in demand for minerals critical to the energy transition by 2030. This rush raises concerns about the implications for resource-rich countries and the communities residing in those regions, necessitating consideration of equitable practices and protections for social and environmental interests.
As the critical minerals race intensifies, countries rich in resources are poised to confront significant challenges. These include environmental degradation, social strife, and the pressing need for equitable management of natural assets. Attention to the balance between extracting wealth and safeguarding local communities will be crucial moving forward, particularly in regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile, Brazil, and the Philippines.
Original Source: www.context.news
