UNU-INWEH finds critical mineral demand worsens poverty and public health in vulnerable communities
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 29
UNU-INWEH finds critical mineral demand worsens poverty and public health in vulnerable communities
6 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Apr 29
The report highlights that 456bn litres of water were used to extract 240,000 tonnes of lithium in 2024, with Africa and Latin America suffering severe environmental and health impacts.
Communities near mining sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo face contaminated rivers and high rates of skin and gynaecological diseases, while Latin America’s lithium triangle experiences water scarcity and agricultural collapse.
UNU-INWEH warns that mineral extraction must increase dramatically to meet climate targets, risking further harm unless global standards and stricter regulations are implemented, as protests and government interventions intensify worldwide.
When a 'green' mine opens, what is the true cost to local water and health?
Can recycling old infrastructure truly meet our future mineral demands?
How is online disinformation shaping the future of critical resource mining?
Will new extraction tech arrive fast enough to prevent a toxic transition?
As nations scramble for minerals, who is winning the new resource 'Great Game'?
Is the green energy transition simply trading fossil fuel harms for new ones?