Mining Needed for Renewable Energy Could Threaten Biodiversity

Researchers have found that the mining required in order to produce renewable energy could harm biodiversity.

Renewable energy requires the mining of metals and other materials in order to be produced.

Scientists investigated the areas surrounding over 60,000 mining properties to evaluate whether they clashed with biodiversity conservation areas.

The researchers discovered that mining has the potential to influence over 50km² of the Earth’s land area, with 82% of these areas having the materials necessary to produce renewable energy.

Of the mining areas assessed, 8% overlapped with protected areas, 7% with key biodiversity regions, and 16% with remaining wilderness.

Researcher at the department of plant sciences at the University of Cambridge, Dr Michelle Kalamandeen, said: “This is an important study as we often don’t acknowledge that mining of metals will be required for renewable energy production and its potential impacts on biodiversity and other ecosystem functions such as generating clean air and water.

“Given that mining causes the loss of over 2m tonnes of forest carbon per year, it’s important that places which can absorb current fossil fuel emissions such as protected areas and forests remain intact and insulated from these negative impacts.

“We then have to focus on strategic landscape-level management of mining for renewable energy production including where and how the mining is done and when and how the mine site is closed after mining. For instance, refilling the mining site with topsoil and replanting could potentially enhance the ability of forest to absorb more than twice the amount of emissions per year compared to leaving the site to regrow naturally.”

Deputy director of the NGO Cool Earth, Dr Hannah Peck, said: “While we fully support the move away from fossil fuel production as an essential part of the fight against climate change, alternative energy production must not happen at the expense of biodiversity, rainforest and the livelihoods of indigenous peoples. Species richness will be lost, and irrevocable damage will be done to local culture, health and traditions.

“Indigenous people have the most to lose from mining companies accessing rainforest, with potentially catastrophic knock-on effects. Once roads are opened, further extractive industries can follow suit, including loggers, who can then gain deeper access to the forest through these newly established roads.”

Renewables currently account for just 17% of global energy consumption. Countries in the EU have agreed to reach at least 27% of energy consumption by 2030.