Nature Communications (Sep 2020)

The social and environmental complexities of extracting energy transition metals

  • Éléonore Lèbre,
  • Martin Stringer,
  • Kamila Svobodova,
  • John R. Owen,
  • Deanna Kemp,
  • Claire Côte,
  • Andrea Arratia-Solar,
  • Rick K. Valenta

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18661-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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As low-carbon energy technologies advance, markets are driving demand for energy transition metals, increasing the stress placed on people and the environment in extractive locations. Here, the authors quantify this stress by developing a set of global composite environmental, social and governance risk indicators, and find that 84% of platinum resources and 70% of cobalt resources are located in high-risk contexts.