UN Study Finds Critical Minerals Are Destroying Vulnerable Communities

The sharp rise in demand for critical minerals is deepening poverty, creating water insecurity, and destroying vulnerable communities, according to a new UN study.

The study, conducted by the United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, found that the demand for critical minerals is at an all-time high. The world's transition to artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and electric cars, among others, is driving this change, as oil is no longer needed to generate power. Instead, countries need batteries and microchips, which are made of rare earth minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.

The UN study confirmed that developed nations like the US, Europe, and China are disproportionately receiving the benefits of this shift to renewables and AI, allowing them to better their infrastructure and create a stronger society. However, it comes at the expense of vulnerable developing nations.

Some of the most mineral-rich regions of the world are in the Global South. Around 60% of the world's lithium is located within an area known as the Lithium Triangle in South America, encompassing parts of Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, in central Africa, possesses between 40-50% of the world's cobalt and the nation holds around $24 trillion worth of rare earths. In the United States, more than 75% of mineral-rich areas are located on or near Native American lands, raising fears that increased rare earths mining could impact their communities as well.

Particularly, the incredible amounts of water used in the extraction process have created extreme water insecurity in certain areas. According to the report, the world's global lithium output in 2024 – 265,000 tons – required more than 120 billion gallons of water; enough to satisfy the annual water needs of 62 million people living through water scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa.

In these areas, groundwater sources are being depleted at an alarming rate, and water tables are plummeting. This high water consumption also prevents that same water from being used for domestic agriculture, meaning that many farms become unable to produce. Meanwhile, runoff from mines enters the water table and allows heavy metals to enter drinking water supplies. The impacts of heavy metal poisoning are severe, resulting in birth defects and adverse health issues for people living in mineral-rich areas.

As a whole, critical minerals are being used for the right purposes, but the way we extract them does just as much damage – if not more damage – to local environments. The report states that for every ton of rare earths that are extracted, around 2,000 tons of toxic waste are generated. Vulnerable communities are suffering the impacts of this, with locals experiencing water insecurity, poisoning from dangerous heavy metals, and even more vulnerability than they already go through.

Instead of demanding a halt to critical minerals mining, the UN study acknowledges that mining for rare earths is crucial for a shift towards a greener future. However, the report urges governments and companies to place guidelines and rules in place to restrict mineral mining to a point where it can benefit the community rather than destroy it.

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