{"id":82263,"date":"2026-03-20T07:20:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T06:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=82263"},"modified":"2026-03-20T07:29:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T06:29:24","slug":"5-ways-to-build-a-green-energy-future-with-limited-mining","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/82263\/5-ways-to-build-a-green-energy-future-with-limited-mining\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to build a green energy future (with limited mining)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Unless you\u2019re studying for a high school science exam, lithium, nickel, copper, and cobalt probably won\u2019t carry much meaning beyond being elements on the periodic table. But if there is a time to pull out those dusty science books, it would be now.<\/p>\n\n

Across various sectors, these minerals are of increasing importance, including – perhaps most prominently – renewable energy generation and storage, and electric vehicles; but also other large and growing sectors such as military and AI (e.g., for datacenters). And around the world, many governments and companies are competing to control who can dig them up.<\/p>\n\n

\"Illegal
Demarcated in 1985, the Sarar\u00e9 Indigenous Land remains under siege by thousands of miners who are playing a game of cat and mouse with the security and environmental protection forces. Home to the Nambikwara people, the 67,000-hectare territory has been systematically dismantled by the action of hundreds of hydraulic excavators that, day and night, deepen the drama of a people who are held hostage in their own home.
\u00a9 Fabio Bispo \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The global minerals rush<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

These raw Earth materials are often called \u201ccritical minerals\u201d by governments and the mining industry, typically a reflection of national political priorities rather than essential societal or energy transition needs. This risks turning these minerals into the focus of a new neo-colonial resource grab, with powerful countries and corporations racing to control them, and wasting their potential to power a fair and green transition.<\/p>\n\n

Globally – from Chile<\/a>, Argentina<\/a>, DRC<\/a>, Indonesia<\/a>, Sweden<\/a> to the deep sea<\/a> – the extractivist rush for minerals puts vital ecosystems, peoples\u2019 rights and the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local communities at risk. The geopolitical scramble over minerals has also been linked to the current US government\u2019s aggressive annexation threats to Greenland<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

\"Activists
Activists from Greenpeace Nordic, Germany, and International protest against Norwegian plans for deep-sea mining in a nearby area of the Norwegian Sea.
\u00a9 Greenpeace \/ Bianca Vitale<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Minerals have different uses, and there are no guarantees that the minerals mined \u201cin the name of energy transition\u201d<\/a> are used for wind turbines or energy storage. For example, big tech companies are consuming more and more<\/a> of these minerals to expand AI infrastructure (such as datacenters). In addition to driving up energy demand and emissions<\/a>, the vision of \u2018progress\u2019 advocated by big tech oligarchs also threatens to worsen extractive pressures on people and nature, and divert minerals away from energy transition. Moreover, mineral use in the expansion of AI-driven warfare systems<\/a> has been found as a particularly concerning development.  <\/p>\n\n

In light of this, it is more important than ever to demand coordinated action to ensure that minerals are used where they matter most: principally, for a fast fair fossil fuel phase out and a transition to clean, affordable renewable energy and sustainable transport systems. <\/p>\n\n

So how do we protect people and natur<\/a>e in the energy transition?<\/p>\n\n

Reduce, recycle, restrict for a safeguarded energy transition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

In a report<\/a> commissioned by Greenpeace International, and authored by academics at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)<\/a> in Australia, we\u2019ve found that an ambitious energy transition can be achieved without mining in vital ecosystems – whether on land or at sea. With visionary leadership, sound policies, and innovative technologies, we can keep global warming within 1.5\u00b0C, safeguard vital ecosystems and reduce extractive pressures on people and nature. <\/p>\n\n

Here\u2019s five ways how:<\/p>\n\n

1. Reduce mineral demand with improved public transport, car-sharing, and smaller, more efficient vehicles<\/h3>\n\n
\"World
Greenpeace Indonesia together with Bike To Work (B2W), Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Indonesia, Parkir Sepeda (Bicycle Park) Jakarta, Peta Bersepeda (Bicycle Map) and bicycle communities celebrates World Bicycle Day in Jakarta.
\u00a9 Jurnasyanto Sukarno \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Accessibility, efficiency, and reliability in how cities are governed make them great places to live in. Having improved public transport systems<\/a> is one of the most effective ways to reduce the need for mineral-intensive electric vehicles and the batteries that power them. In addition to expanding high-quality public transport, employing car-sharing schemes, and investing in active mobility (e.g. walking and cycling infrastructure) would significantly decrease reliance on individual car ownership. <\/p>\n\n

As an added bonus improving our public transport systems is essential not just for climate, but for connecting people to opportunities. Mobility justice is climate justice.<\/p>\n\n

2. Incentivise and substitute battery technology towards alternatives requiring less lithium, cobalt, or nickel<\/h3>\n\n
\"Electric
The Seoul Metropolitan Government introduced the plan to provide subsidies for drivers who purchase a new electric taxi vehicle. The electric taxies are colored blue, differing from the yellow ones.
\u00a9 Kwangchan Song \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Think about how many items you use that require batteries? Without it, our personal gadgets would be useless; we wouldn\u2019t have advancement in items like electric cars or bikes; and batteries can also help store and use more eco-friendly sources of energy, such as solar and wind. But the production of large batteries is highly mineral-intensive. <\/p>\n\n

Luckily, over the last decade, technological innovation has transformed the market. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, now widely commercialised, eliminate the need for cobalt and nickel, reducing pressure on these supply chains. At the same time, sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are advancing rapidly, and offer a pathway to significantly reduce mineral demand for lithium, according to the report<\/a>. It shows that, using innovative battery technologies and energy storage systems that do not require these key minerals would significantly reduce supply gaps for key minerals and ease potential development pressures for new mines targeting them.<\/p>\n\n

3. Design for circularity and scale up recycling <\/h3>\n\n
\"Greenpeace
A workshop at the Greenpeace Repair Cafe for Smartphones in Hamburg.
\u00a9 Mauricio Bustamante \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

We all know the drill by now – reduce, reuse, recycle. When it comes to transition minerals, this maxim is of key importance. <\/p>\n\n

By maximising collection and the recovery of transition minerals from end-of-life transition technologies, recycling can significantly reduce the need for new extraction. Investing in advanced recycling technologies and collection systems, alongside policy incentives that reward high recycled mineral content in new products, ensures that transition minerals re-enter the supply chain. <\/p>\n\n

Additional circularity measures like extending technologies\u2019 lifespans, improving repairability, incentivising reuse, designing and standardising components for easy disassembly to help with repair and recycling, and enforcing extended producer responsibility (EPR), could also contribute to reducing overall mineral demands. <\/p>\n\n

4. Prioritise mineral use for essential energy transition needs<\/h3>\n\n
\"Windmill
Greenpeace Slovenia activists create a windmill shape on the ground at Tartini Square in Piran to promote and demand for the government to build more wind power in Slovenia as a solution to the climate crisis.
\u00a9 Videoteka<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Minerals are finite resources, and the practice of mining carries significant social, labour, and environmental risks. Therefore, the use of mineral resources should be prioritised where they matter most – in renewable energy and its storage and in electric mobility to enable a fast fair fossil fuel phase out. <\/p>\n\n

Governments and industries must prioritise mineral use towards a fast, fair, and just energy transition. Coupled with supply chain transparency, prioritising minerals for energy transition ensures finite minerals are used to advance climate goals that benefit all people and the planet.   <\/p>\n\n

5. Protect key \u2018Restricted Areas\u2019 from mining development<\/h3>\n\n
\"Photo
Greenpeace Indonesia activists pose for a photo with a banner reading ‘Save Raja Ampat, Stop Nickel’, with the iconic karst island formation of Piaynemo, Raja Ampat in the background. Raja Ampat is a mega-biodiversity region that serves as a habitat for hundreds of unique and rare species of flora and fauna. However, the small islands within the Raja Ampat area are now under threat from nickel mining, driven by the growing demand in the global nickel market.
\u00a9 Nita \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Protecting human rights and ecological integrity is a non-negotiable foundation of a just and green transition. Restricted Areas have high environmental, ecological, and natural values, and may include Indigenous Peoples and local community territories. Defining and protecting these Restricted Areas is a crucial step to ensuring that mining of transition minerals respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to their territories, and does not destroy biodiversity, critical natural ecosystems, natural carbon storage, freshwater systems and oceans. <\/p>\n\n

After all, what is \u201ccritical\u201d here is not a minerals scramble largely driven by geopolitical rivalry. Neither the AI race, nor the power and profit chased by States and corporations.<\/p>\n\n

Critical are the ecosystems that all living beings on the planet depend on. <\/p>\n\n

Critical are the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. <\/p>\n\n

Critical is meeting peoples\u2019 needs and ensuring that current and future generations can live in a safe climate. <\/p>\n\n

For this, it\u2019s essential for our world leaders to take courageous and coordinated action to protect people and the planet, and ensure our Earth\u2019s minerals help create a green and just future, rather than being exploited for short-term profit. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStop Deep Sea Mining\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

We need a global moratorium to stop the launch of this destructive new extractive industry. Join the Campaign.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t \n Add your name\n <\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\n

Elsa Lee is the Co-Head of Biodiversity at Greenpeace International<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is more important than ever to demand coordinated action to ensure that minerals are used where they matter most: for a fast fair fossil fuel phase out and a transition to clean, affordable renewable energy and sustainable transport systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":82268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_planet4_optimize_post_is_variant":false,"_planet4_optimize_experiment_name":"","_planet4_optimize_variant_name":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"Stop Deep Sea Mining","p4_local_project":"Transition Minerals","p4_basket_name":"Oceans","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[65,85,89],"p4-page-type":[59],"class_list":["post-82263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised","tag-energy-revolution","tag-oceans","tag-climate","p4-page-type-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82263"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82274,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82263\/revisions\/82274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82263"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=82263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}