Myth:
Lithium mining has a devastating effect on the environment, so will cause widespread damage if we have to rely on it for our energy needs.
Fact:
It’s true that lithium production can be environmentally damaging, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like the Atacama salt flat in Chile. For this reason, strict regulations will be needed to ensure that mining is carried out as responsibly as possible.
Of course, the bulk of lithium mining no longer takes place in sensitive regions like Atacama. Australia now produces 52 percent of the world’s lithium and does not use the brine extraction technique used in Chile. Instead, it uses the much less damaging hard rock extraction technique. In addition, new technologies like Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) are on the horizon. These promise dramatic improvements in the environmental impact of lithium mining.
Finally, it is not yet certain that lithium batteries will underpin the global shift to renewables. Many alternatives are being developed, and only time will tell which of these will win out.
Aerial photograph of lithium mining in the Atacama salt flat in Chile. This form of mining is damaging to the environment, but most lithium is not mined this way. [Source: PICRYL]
Sources:
Thea Riofrancos, “The rush to ‘go electric’ comes with a hidden cost: destructive lithium mining,” The Guardian, 14/6/21
“Working towards environmentally friendly lithium extraction methods,” Innovation News Network, 25/11/22
Rithwik Kalale, “Lithium mining for EVs: How sustainable is it?” APM Research Lab, 22/2/24. https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x/lithium-mining-for-evs-sustainability
Cara Anderson, “The Harmful Effects of our Lithium Batteries,” Greenly, https://greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/industries/the-harmful-effects-of-our-lithium-batteries
“Environmental Impacts of Lithium Mining and Extraction,” Lithium Harvest, 11/6/26. https://lithiumharvest.com/knowledge/lithium-extraction/environmental-impacts-of-lithium-mining-and-extraction/