The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) says minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements have become the "oil of the 21st Century" because they power electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, data centres and artificial intelligence. UNU-INWEH director Kaveh Madani warned that the world is repeating the mistakes of the fossil fuel era by treating water depletion and pollution as acceptable trade-offs.
The report finds that environmental damage, water loss and health harms fall mainly on poorer mining regions in Africa and South America, while richer countries receive most economic benefits. Demand for critical minerals tripled between 2010 and 2023 and could more than double by 2030 and quadruple by 2050. Demand for lithium, graphite and cobalt could rise by nearly 500 per cent from 2020 levels by 2050 if warming is limited to 1.5 or two degrees Celsius.
The report gives regional data. Africa holds about 30 per cent of global reserves. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Morocco together hold more than half of global cobalt deposits, and the DRC provides more than 60 per cent of global cobalt production. In the DRC, over 80 per cent of mineral output comes from foreign-controlled industrial mines, while many people live in poverty and lack basic drinking water access.
The authors call for reforms: restructure supply chains, invest in recycling and material substitution research, enforce environmental standards, and protect water and health in affected regions.
Difficult words
- depletion — gradual reduction in amount available
- pollution — damage to air, water or soil
- reserves — known natural resources saved for use
- restructure — change an organization or system
- recycling — processing used materials for reuse
- substitution — use of one thing instead of another
- enforce — make sure rules are followed
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could richer countries help poorer mining regions to protect water and health?
- What are the benefits and the problems of higher demand for critical minerals in your view?
- Do you think recycling and material substitution are realistic solutions? Why or why not?
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