Yvonne Chen’s Post

Exciting Research Alert: New Insights into the Social and Environmental Impacts of Sustainable Energy Transitions We are thrilled to present a new methodology that precisely assesses the significant global social and environmental impacts associated with ore extraction of shifting towards sustainable energy. Key findings when applied to the projected EU energy transition: - Africa and South America accounted for 12% and 29% respectively of the EU's mineral extraction footprint for green technologies -significantly higher than previous estimates. - Ore extraction will face major environmental challenges such as droughts in regions like Australia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, and Chile, compounding difficulties in securing a stable supply of these critical minerals. - EU's climate goals might expose up to 89,000 new miners (mainly in Africa) to significant risks of modern slavery by 2040. Understanding the Research: - Our findings highlight the challenges but reaffirm the vital role of electrification in climate change mitigation. - Comparatively, the social issues associated with the oil industry do not provide a justification for overlooking the concerns related to the mining sector. - The study provides forward-looking insights to help policymakers and scientists develop effective strategies to mitigate these impacts by 2030 and 2040. - In fine, this research is intended to foster a deeper understanding of the global consequences of our energy choices and to encourage the development of effective solutions. Climate Justice and the Decarbonization Divide: This research is crucial for climate justice and understanding the "decarbonization divide"—where developed countries benefit from cleaner technologies while developing nations bear the brunt. This not only complicates future decarbonization efforts but also exacerbates existing inequalities. In conclusion, balancing economic growth with local needs and global considerations is crucial. This approach aims to avoid one-size-fits-all solutions that could otherwise prove inefficient or inappropriate, especially in varied geopolitical contexts. Acknowledgements: A huge thank you to all the contributors, especially Julien Lavalley, Candy Anquetil-Deck, Konstantin Stadler, Michael Hauschild, Ugur Soytas and Alexis Laurent. My deepest gratitude to Timothé Beaufils regarding his expertise and his constant availability to my (numerous!) questions related to MRIO. As well as Alessio Miatto, Loraine Berthet and Raphaël Pacta for their extremely valuable inputs regarding the mineral and ore extraction expertise. https://lnkd.in/dpd_S8xG This study is open access, providing valuable resources for those working to quantify sustainable development aspects Constance G., Raphaël Deléarde, Olivier Muller, Robert Prengel, Carbone 4, Jean-Marc Jancovici, and others

The Hypocrisy of "Green" Policies Environmental Damage in Mining Lithium extraction in South America (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia) drains water tables, devastating local ecosystems and indigenous communities. Cobalt and coltan mining in the DRC destroy forests, pollute rivers, and leave toxic waste behind, affecting both nature and human health. Rare earth mining in China has created radioactive waste lakes due to the harsh chemical processing needed. Human Rights Violations Cobalt and coltan mining in the DRC heavily rely on child labor and dangerous conditions. Indigenous communities in South America are being displaced due to lithium mining. China’s dominance in rare earth processing means forced labor concerns in certain regions (like Xinjiang). Western Greenwashing & Corporate Hypocrisy European and North American companies promote "green" products while conveniently outsourcing the environmental destruction and human suffering elsewhere. There is little transparency in supply chains, and even "certified ethical" minerals can be traced back to conflict zones. The push for net-zero policies focuses on emissions reductions at the consumer end but largely ignores the upstream impact of mineral extraction. So, What’s the Solution? Develop better recycling methods for batteries to reduce new mining demand. Invest in alternative battery chemistries (like sodium-ion, solid-state, or graphene-based) that rely less on rare and conflict minerals. Enforce stricter regulations on ethical sourcing (but not just as a PR stunt—actual, enforceable standards with third-party audits). Reevaluate the rush to EVs and massive battery storage—is an over-reliance on batteries truly sustainable, or should we be investing more in hydrogen, nuclear, and decentralized renewables? The Hard Truth The "green" transition isn’t as green as advertised. Western policies often shift pollution and exploitation elsewhere, so the EU and the U.S. can claim environmental leadership while ignoring the human and ecological cost in Africa, South America, and Asia. Until the world acknowledges this trade-off and demands true sustainability, we're just replacing one set of environmental and ethical problems with another.

Colombia and Brazil have launched a push for a new binding global treaty on traceability for the critical minerals needed for the clean energy transition along their entire supply chain – from mining to recycling. The two countries announced the initiative on the sidelines of the COP16 UN biodiversity summit in the Colombian city of Cali this week. Their plan is to come up with a proposal for the pact by the COP30 UN climate conference to be held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. The initiative picks up on one of the recommendations issued by a UN panel on critical minerals in September, which urged countries to create such a transparency platform to help ensure fair and sustainable extraction of minerals for clean energy supply chains.

The global shift to renewable energy and electric mobility aims to reduce emissions but exposes the heavy environmental and social costs of mining critical minerals like lithium. While necessary for the energy transition, increased extraction risks worsening ecological degradation and socio-economic inequality, especially in the Global South. Read the full comment piece from AIDA - Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense's Claudia Velarde, Stephanie Weiss and  Jessica Solórzano.

🔌 Energy Day at COP29 Azerbaijan – the energy transition paradox and lithium mining ⛏️ As the largest contributor to #GHGemissions, energy is a key priority for global #climateaction. Building on the outcomes of the previous year, #COP29 aims to move towards implementation of existing agreements and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to make collective progress.     Jan Brusselaers, ASI Member and an Assistant Professor at the Environmental Economics department at IVM Institute for Environmental Studies, co-authored a paper with Leander Wolters on the topic of energy transition that was published earlier this year by The Extractive Industries and Society Journal.   🔋 Their research explores the socio-environmental impacts of lithium mining in the context of the EU’s #energytransition, identifying key leverage points to mitigate the tension between energy security and justice concerns. The study highlights the need to rethink the transport system and reduce demand for lithium to mitigate its negative impacts on the environment and local communities, emphasizing the importance of good governance and stakeholder involvement in the lithium value chain. ♻️ The importance of good governance is emphasized to avoid issues associated with resource extraction, such as geopolitical tension and corruption. The authors conclude that a circular economy scenario, where lithium is recovered from used batteries, is the most favorable.     Read the full article here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dxR_JdnS Find out more about Jan’s research here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dK76E8XE 

Déjà vu in the energy transition?! As we dig up critical minerals, there’s more at stake than ever. If COP keeps missing the mark on Indigenous rights and local ecosystem, we are just mining old mistakes! My latest opinion piece breaks down why we need to get it right this time to truly achieve a sustainable energy transition - give it a read to see what’s on the line! The Energy Network timely piece with our event on social impact of energy transition next week!

Big win for sustainability today! 🌍🙌 The High Court has just halted the UK's first new coal mine in three decades planned for Whitehaven, Cumbria. This landmark decision puts a full stop to West Cumbria Mining's project, ensuring no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions. As Mr Justice Holgate rightly pointed out, the assumption of it being a net zero mine is legally flawed. This ruling comes on the heels of the Supreme Court's critical decision requiring thorough climate impact assessments for fossil fuel projects. Friends of the Earth's senior lawyer, Niall Toru, stated that this could have global repercussions, given similar cases abroad. It's a clear signal that the tide is turning against fossil fuel projects. For those of us committed to a sustainable future, this is a major step forward! 🌱 Let's discuss! What are your thoughts on this judgement and its possible international impact? Visit netzeroevolution.com to learn more about how we can support your sustainability goals. ✅#Sustainability ✅#ClimateChange ✅#CleanEnergy

It was anticipated, and now it's here. This is very welcome step. This will enable Canadian companies to draw more private capital and ensure that Canadian businesses remain competitive as the world moves toward net zero. This announcement would require Canadian companies to prepare for sourcing “right investor-grade data” for sustainability reporting. Disclosing climate-related financial risks necessitates accurate data. Green taxonomy is right step. This would help categorize economic activities based on sustainability performance. With this there will be refocus on environmental objectives like climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity preservation. At Deloitte we are very well poised to help organizations take this journey in holistic manner which breaks down disclosure requirements into People (change), Process (audit and controls), Data and Technology aspects to provide “sustainable” platform and futureproof. #Sustainability, #SustainableDevelopment, #ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), #SustainabilityReporting, #CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), #ClimateAction, #RenewableEnergy, #CircularEconomy, #GreenBusiness, #CorporateSustainability, #EnvironmentalImpact, #ClimateChange, #ResponsibleInvesting, #GreenTaxonomy

📢 A Global Call for a Just Transition. Members of the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals are working hard to establish global principles as mining intensifies. The panel’s goal: to ensure that the countries and local communities endowed with these resources are the ones to benefit most, in line with a just and equitable energy transition and long-term sustainable development. The panel aims to help companies and governments advance justice, equity, and human rights throughout transition minerals value chains. ♻️🌍🌱 🗣️ Leading the Charge. A powerful coalition of 230 Indigenous Peoples groups, unions, and various organizations dedicated to climate, environmental justice, and human rights have united to develop recommendations for a transformative approach to transition minerals. With these, we aim to contribute to the panel’s work for a just global energy system that benefits all. 👉 Read our recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/dCDsw7it 👥 Collaboration is Key. The panel is led by a diverse group of experts and stakeholders, under the guidance of co-chairs Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa and Ditte Juul Jorgensen, Director-General for Energy of the @EuropeanCommission. As they enter this next phase of work, we urge them to carefully consider and integrate these recommendations into their draft. Civil society actors eagerly anticipate the panel’s output and look forward to supporting a robust set of actionable principles that lead to a just energy transition for all. #JustMinerals #JustTransition #IndigenousRights #IndigenousPeoples #Sustainability #Environment #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice #HumanRights  

In a climate crisis, this is alarming policy sentiment from Peter Dutton (2024), when addressing the Minerals Council recently: “I want to see more excavators digging, more gas flowing, and more trucks moving. “And that requires removing those regulatory roadblocks which have needlessly inhibited projects coming online until years after they should have started.” 🙈🙊🙉 No matter what side you sit on politically, the science is proven that fossil fuel extraction propels climate change. The World Meteorological Organization notes 2023 was the hottest year in history, and 2024 is looking to exceed that ridiculous record. We need progressive environmental, economic and social policy NOW, for future generations to thrive. ✅ Maintain the Paris Agreement commitment (that way we will have some hope of ensuring 1.5 degrees is not exceeded) ✅ Tax the fossil fuel industry properly (as the Australia Institute said in their newsletter this week, “Complaining about paying royalties as an 'impost' on the mining industry is like a baker complaining he doesn't get his flour for free.”) ✅ Invest in renewable energy (imagine if every viable car park in Australia was made of solar panels, removing the need for renewables on prime land) ✅ Investigate ways nature-based tourism can effect social, environmental and economic change in Australia, akin to Bhutan or Copenhagen. (This is a quest I’m on these next few years whilst studying an MBA Social Impact!) https://lnkd.in/geSyJEPj The Australia Institute Guardian Australia The Hon. Peter Dutton MP Tanya Plibersek Anthony Albanese Australian Ethical Investment Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Sarah Hanson-Young Monique Ryan David Pocock World Meteorological Organization