Lithium is crucial to the effort to achieve net-zero emissions because it can power electric cars and store wind and solar energy. One of the primary drivers of the current economic and infrastructural transformation is lithium. Our reliance on lithium is similar to how we once relied on coal and oil to revolutionise our society. The long-term effects of burning fossil fuels were unknown at the time, whereas lithium extraction has also a very negative impact on the environment as per scientists and metallurgists. This knowledge ought to be accompanied by responsibility for the environment and future generations.
We must be careful not to fall into the same traps that we are trying to avoid. Along with lithium’s potent curative and palliative effects on the effects of climate change, it is important to take into account any potential side effects and communicate them openly. The hydrological cycle may be altered, there may be an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, there may be a large increase in the production of mineral waste, and there may be an increase in respiratory issues. The magnitude of the economic interests at stake is obvious. The majority of the world’s lithium is produced in China, Chile, and Australia. The market for lithium on a global scale is rapidly approaching ten billion. It follows that there can be a contradiction between the clean revolution and the dirty lithium mines. It is true that electrifying cars and other aspects of our society helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The transition might not be as effective as we think it is once we take into account the price of emissions related to lithium extraction, particularly if miners are not using clean energy.
According to research by the automotive consultancy, producing a battery weighing two thousand pounds emits over eighty percent more carbon dioxide than producing a conventional car. Furthermore, lithium mining requires a lot of water. Extracting one ton of lithium requires about ten lakh litres of water, and can result in the poisoning of reservoirs and related health problems. To avoid this, one should first make investments in lithium battery alternatives. The need to mine vast quantities of priceless material would also be diminished by recycling and extending the lifespan of these batteries. Along with this effort, strict environmental laws and regulations should be implemented for lithium mining operations, and money should be invested in cutting-edge mining techniques that can extract lithium from seawater. To be able to refer to the actions we are taking toward a new world as progress, the effects of lithium mining must be remedied and reduced. If not, we will definitely go to witness a lot of environmental pollution that we are trying to get rid of.
Vijaykumar H K is an environmentalist from Raichur, Karnataka

Vijaykumar H K