The dark side of green energy: how mining for climate solutions threatens biodiversity and communities

The transition to renewable energy comes with an uncomfortable paradox: the very minerals needed to power our green future are extracted through environmentally destructive mining practices. A comprehensive study published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity reveals the extensive environmental costs of mining lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and other critical materials essential for solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries.

The research highlights familiar but devastating impacts at mining sites worldwide: widespread deforestation, severe soil degradation, and contamination of water sources that affect both local wildlife habitats and human settlements. As global demand for these “transition minerals” is projected to increase sixfold between 2020 and 2040, the environmental stakes continue to rise. “A truly just energy transition must align climate action with conservation and social equity,” explains Aurora Torres, an ecologist at the University of Alicante and study co-author.

However, the situation isn’t entirely bleak. Research suggests that even with expanded mining for renewable energy infrastructure, the overall mining footprint would still be smaller than what’s required to maintain our current fossil fuel-dependent system. The study also found that producing construction materials like concrete—which requires massive quantities of sand, gravel, and limestone—actually has a greater environmental impact than extracting transition minerals directly.

The challenge lies in managing this transition responsibly. Many remaining mineral deposits are located in remote areas, often on Indigenous territories where environmental damage could devastate local communities. As KPMG’s Andy Symington warns, “If the transition is not managed properly, there could be significant consequences for biodiversity and local communities.”