Mining, biodiversity and social conflict in the renewable energy transition

Global biodiversity is increasingly threatened by climate change and land-use pressures, including mining. Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 requires transitioning from fossil fuel extraction to sourcing the minerals necessary for renewable energy production. Although material use will probably decline in a low-carbon economy, the intensity, location and ecological footprint of extraction are expected to shift. In this Review, we assess how evolving mineral demands affect biodiversity and social conflicts. We examine the minerals required for renewable energy technologies and infrastructure, and outline the pathways through which mining affects biodiversity from site to global scales. Drawing on cases from the Global Atlas of Environmental Justice, we also explore how these impacts intersect with environmental justice conflicts, examining triggers, concerns and outcomes of conflicts related to energy transition minerals. Although ‘critical minerals’ dominate policy discourse, construction materials account for the largest share of demand by volume and are often neglected in research and policy analysis. Despite expanding research, crucial gaps remain in biodiversity and social risk assessments, comprehensive mineral demand projections and spatial data on the extraction of construction materials. Building a comprehensive understanding of mineral requirements and associated risks is essential for effective decarbonization strategies that are socially and environmentally responsible. Meeting climate goals requires minerals for renewable energy technologies and infrastructure. However, the mining to obtain these minerals negatively affects biodiversity and local communities, undermining conservation and sustainability goals. This Review explores the effects of mining for the renewable energy transition on biodiversity and social conflict.