Mining justice and the clean energy transition
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We must urgently transition to a 100% renewable energy economy Renewable energy technologies, especially EV batteries, require a lot of minerals We can¡¯t replicate one form of dirty extraction with another This must be an opportunity moment ¨C to not only transition to a low-carbon economy but also a more sustainable materials economy
Mining justice and the clean energy transition
- 1. MINING JUSTICE AND THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION Payal Sampat, Earthworks psampat@earthworksaction.org twitter: @payalsampat and @earthworks https://earthworks.org/mcec Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org
- 2. ? We must urgently transition to a 100% renewable energy economy ? Renewable energy technologies, especially EV batteries, require a lot of minerals ? We can¡¯t replicate one form of dirty extraction with another ? This must be be an opportunity moment ¨C to not only transition to a low-carbon economy but also a more sustainable materials economy Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org Nornickel mine and refinery, Russian Arctic, built on the homelands of the Taimyr Indigenous Peoples CLEAN ENERGY CANNOT BE BUILT ON DIRTY MINING
- 3. KEY METALS FOR CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org Source: University of Technology, Sydney for Earthworks
- 4. Minerals Demand Projections for Battery and Renewables Technologies Under 100% Scenarios Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org
- 5. MINING IS A THREAT TO COMMUNITIES, CLIMATE AND ECOSYSTEMS ? The ¡°critical minerals¡± narrative is used as justification to expand mining across the US to the salt flats of Argentina and Chile to the rainforests of Indonesia and DRC ¨C and even the depths of the ocean, through proposed deep seabed mining. ? Potential impacts of increased minerals demand poised to grow ¨C imperiling rights, ecosystems, communities and climate: ? Carbon-intensity - metals mining is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions ? Massive production of toxic waste and deadly tailings disasters such as in Brazil and Canada in recent years ? Disproportionate harm to Indigenous communities Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org Brumadinho, Brazil, 2019 mine tailings disaster which killed 300 people
- 6. DISPROPORTIONATE HARM TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org
- 7. ? Potential large increases in demand for metals that have only been mined in small amounts previously and where renewable energy, especially batteries, is a large share of demand (lithium, cobalt, rare earths) ? These metals are most likely to see largest increases in production and new mines as Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org KEY FINDINGS OF UTS RESEARCH
- 8. Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org Source: University of Technology, Sydney ¡°Reducing new mining for EV Battery Metals¡± (2021 IMPACT OF RECYCLING ON REDUCING PRIMARY METAL DEMAND ? 25% for lithium ? 35% for cobalt and nickel ? 55% for copper
- 9. PATHWAYS FORWARD Policy interventions to boost recycling and minimize toxicity ? Policy interventions to encourage metals recovery and recycling and remove barriers that tilt the balance in favour of new extraction e.g. new EU battery law ? Mandating recycled content ? Extending battery life and repurposing end-of-life batteries ? Product take-back requirements, design for disassembly, and standardization of battery technologies ? Prioritize health and safety for workers and communities to ensure no new sacrifice zones, ecosystem harm or injustices ? R&D advances in battery technologies ¨C changing chemistries and reducing mineral content Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org
- 10. PATHWAYS FORWARD ? Demand-side Shifts in Consumption and Transportation ? Transformative shifts: rethink how we consume products and transport goods and people ? Prioritize investments in electric- powered public transit and bike transit infrastructure ? Equity in access to benefits of clean energy and transit Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org Bike share, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- 11. PATHWAYS FORWARD ? High standards and binding rules to rein in mining impacts ? Alignment in messaging and asks ? Declaration on Mining and Energy Transition ¨C endorsed by 175 orgs in advance of COP26, being re-released at COP27 on Nov 15 ? Solidarity with frontline communities and networks ? Center FPIC: SIRGE Coalition ? Supply chain campaigns: EV sector aware of the minerals supply chain issues and responsive to demands Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org Gennady Schutkin, Dolgan People, Taimyr Peninsula, Russian Arctic
- 12. MAKING CLEAN ENERGY CLEAN, JUST & EQUITABLE Payal Sampat, Earthworks psampat@earthworksaction.org twitter: @payalsampat and @earthworks https://earthworks.org/mcec Alaskan wild salmon imperiled by proposed Pebble mine Protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral & energy development while promoting sustainable solutions www.earthworks.org
Editor's Notes
- #7: The majority of U.S. reserves and operating and proposed cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel mines are located within 35 miles of Native American reservations.?