Scientific American: “There’s a Better Way to Mine for Electric Vehicle Batteries”
RFF Fellow Beia Spiller and former RFF intern Sangita Kannan share their thoughts on improving critical mineral mining practices in their coauthored op-ed.
In the rush to deploy electric vehicles to meet electrification goals, the United States must not ignore the harm that unsustainable mining practices can inflict on the environment and local communities like those in the [Democratic Republic of Congo]. For the United States to transition toward electric vehicles that contain minerals produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, the nation must invest in mineral extraction innovations.
Fortunately, real and increasingly feasible alternatives to harmful mining practices are coming. If we continue to invest in them, we can sustainably build the electric vehicles that will advance us toward our electrification goals.
