Energy transition metals extraction poses significant environmental and social risks in 84% of platinum and 70% of cobalt resources.
Category: Resource Management · Effect: Strong effect · Year: 2020
The increasing demand for metals crucial to low-carbon energy technologies is exacerbating environmental and social stresses in mining regions, with a substantial portion of critical resources located in high-risk areas.
Design Takeaway
Prioritize material sourcing from low-risk regions or invest in technologies and processes that mitigate the identified ESG risks in high-risk extraction areas.
Why It Matters
Designers and engineers must consider the full lifecycle impact of products, including the sourcing of raw materials. Understanding the geopolitical and environmental risks associated with energy transition metals is crucial for developing sustainable and ethically sourced designs.
Key Finding
A significant majority of platinum and cobalt resources, essential for the energy transition, are found in areas with high environmental and social risks. Increased demand for common metals like iron and copper will also lead to greater land disturbance.
Key Findings
- 84% of platinum resources are located in high-risk contexts.
- 70% of cobalt resources are located in high-risk contexts.
- Major metals like iron and copper are projected to disturb more land due to heightened demand.
- Jurisdictions with low-risk contexts are better positioned to implement safeguards against mining-related risks.
Research Evidence
Aim: To identify the co-occurrence of environmental, social, and governance risk factors in mining projects for 20 metal commodities to inform future scenario planning for the energy transition.
Method: Quantitative analysis using composite Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indicators.
Procedure: Developed a set of global ESG indicators and analyzed mining projects across 20 metal commodities to map the spatial distribution of environmental, social, and governance risks.
Context: Global mining industry, specifically focusing on metals for energy transition technologies.
Design Principle
Ethical material sourcing and lifecycle impact assessment are integral to sustainable design.
How to Apply
When selecting materials for new designs, research the ESG risk profile of the regions where those materials are primarily extracted. Consider alternative materials or design strategies that reduce the demand for high-risk commodities.
Limitations
The study focuses on resource location and does not fully capture the dynamic nature of risk management or the specific impacts of individual mining operations.
Student Guide (IB Design Technology)
Simple Explanation: The metals needed for things like electric cars and solar panels often come from places where mining causes big problems for the environment and people. This means we need to be careful about where we get these materials and how we design products to use them responsibly.
Why This Matters: Understanding the source of materials is a critical part of responsible design. This research highlights that the 'hidden' costs of materials can be significant, impacting both the planet and communities.
Critical Thinking: How can designers actively contribute to mitigating the negative social and environmental impacts of energy transition metal extraction through their design choices and material selection processes?
IA-Ready Paragraph: The sourcing of materials for energy transition technologies presents significant environmental and social challenges. Research indicates that a substantial proportion of critical metals like platinum and cobalt are extracted from regions with high ESG risks, necessitating careful consideration of material provenance and supply chain ethics in design.
Project Tips
- When choosing materials for your design project, investigate the origin of those materials and any associated environmental or social concerns.
- Consider how your design can minimize the use of materials that have high extraction risks.
How to Use in IA
- Use this research to justify the selection of specific materials, or the avoidance of others, based on their environmental and social impact during extraction.
Examiner Tips
- Demonstrate an awareness of the global context of material sourcing and its ethical implications.
Independent Variable: Demand for energy transition metals, Location of metal resources.
Dependent Variable: Environmental and social risk factors in mining contexts.
Controlled Variables: Metal commodity type, Global ESG indicator framework.
Strengths
- Provides a quantitative assessment of ESG risks across multiple metal commodities.
- Highlights specific high-risk metals (platinum, cobalt) and their resource locations.
Critical Questions
- To what extent can technological innovation in extraction and processing mitigate ESG risks in high-risk regions?
- How can design strategies promote circularity and reduce the overall demand for newly extracted energy transition metals?
Extended Essay Application
- An Extended Essay could explore the feasibility of designing a product system that prioritizes the use of recycled or ethically sourced energy transition metals, analyzing the trade-offs and challenges involved.
Source
The social and environmental complexities of extracting energy transition metals · Nature Communications · 2020 · 10.1038/s41467-020-18661-9