The growth of Lithium Extraction and its Impact on Society

Once considered to be a rare element, lithium has quickly emerged as one of the twenty first century’s most sought after resources. Used mainly in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, The United States, Australia, China and Congo. It is often referred to as the “white gold” of our clean energy era, because it powers batteries that run our electric cars, smartphones, and renewable energy storage devices, technologies which define contemporary life and propel the global movement towards sustainability. However, this promise of a more ecological future is undermined by an elaborate web of issues that go well beyond the lab or manufacturing floor. Lithium extraction and use have intricate social, economic, and environmental ramifications that need to be carefully weighed. I find the proposition of our reliance on lithium to be debatable and whether we can or will put more at risk to fulfill such standards. Are we in fact using an even more toxic solution to battle the first, in consequence harboring another major problem that will catch up to us in the long run, I hope to conduct my own critical evaluation of this coeval situation, both putting forth and rebutting this virtual reality industries have set their hope on. 

Lithium is a soft light metal whose an ideal fit for recent energy systems. It is the primary component of lithium-ion batteries, utilized in everything from laptops and cell phones to grid-scale storage and electronic vehicles. Lithium has emerged as an essential factor in the shift away from fossil fuel-based organizations due to its high electrochemical potential, low weight per unit of charge, and dependable performance. Indeed, regarded by many analysts as one of the crucial raw materials for a future that minimizes carbon emissions. 

Beyond batteries, lithium and its compounds are also used in lubricants, glass, ceramics, and other industrial processes. The expansion of energy storage and power generation is currently the main factor driving demand and extraction. The requirement for lithium is predicted to rise sharply as a result of the universal push for carbon reduction, the integration of renewable energy sources, and the transition to electric vehicles. 

The progress achieved within the lithium sector while generating a rise in the clean energy industry, poses a risk to the salt flats of the Gran Atacama zone, situated at the intersection of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. In order to sustain local life, these landscapes keep consistency between fresh and salty water. This balance is made even more vulnerable by semi-arid conditions, which are marked by high evaporation and little rainfall. Brine is a form of salty water that mining companies treat as a mineral resource, to support its extraction while ignoring the harm it causes to the environment. The ecosystem is disrupted, and the lives of the indigenous groups that have inhabited the Puna region for many generations are in jeopardy when brine is removed. 

Extracting lithium from brine involves drilling into salt flats, channeling it into large evaporation pods, wait for the water to evaporate and then chemically separating the lithium from remaining salts to make lithium carbonate. This process consumes enormous quantities of water that are sourced from underground fresh water, brine aquifers as well as rivers. To manufacture just 1 ton of lithium, around 150 tons of fresh water and 350 cubic meters of brine are required. Between 100-1000 tons of water are lost in the evaporation. The water forfeited from this affair is equivalent to the amount consumed by the entire population of Antofagasta, roughly 166,000 people, over a period of two years. Addition to depleting water sources, lithium mining contaminates both surface and underground water with toxic substances. Disrupting the fine balance of ecosystems and cracking and already fragile community of indigenous people, their livelihood the contingent of this asset, generations now cast away and denied access. 

To better understand the sheer magnitude of these impacts, figure one provides context concerning the sharp increase in lithium production from rock and brine sources worldwide over the last 20 years, especially since 2015. Global production was less than 25,000 tons in 2005, but it has risen to over 120,000 tons in 2025, due to rising demand for renewable energy storage and electric vehicles. The general bulk of lithium comes from arid areas in the lithium triangle of South America, where there is already a severe water shortage. As the upward trend suggests, this upsurge intensifies environmental stress, such as pollution and water scarcity, escalating the urgency to salvage the remnants of our environment. 

Economically, lithium offers clear benefits on a global and local scale. Strong demand for lithium has been generated by the electric vehicle market's rapid rise, which has encouraged foreign trade, investment, and technological advancement. Australia, Chile, Argentina, China, and other nations with large lithium reserves have benefited financially from exports, the creation of jobs, and the growth of whole industries centred on battery production. Lithium is viewed by many governments as a strategic resource that can strengthen their position in the clean energy supply chain and diversify national economies. In the long run, this thriving industry lowers costs for consumers, draws in private investment, and promotes battery efficiency research. 

However, there are serious risks and inequalities associated with the economic benefits. Because of trading, shortages of supply, and changing demand, lithium markets are notoriously unstable. Prices were relatively stable from 2010 until about 2020, but beginning in 2021, started unforeseen changes and swings, with prices rising well above 4000,000 US dollars per ton, before quickly falling once more. Significant changes in market value are highlighted by the sharp climbs and equally abrupt drops, especially after 2022. In producing nations, this kind of instability makes long-term planning difficult and can result in periods of unemployment or economic dependency that puts local communities at risk. Furthermore, the people who live closest to mining sites typically do not benefit from the profits made from lithium extraction, the money usually goes to nations or multinational corporations. As a consequence when mining disturbs traditional ways of life, interferes with indigenous land rights, or fails to compensate for environmental harm, social unrest may arise, thus lithium may further uneven the global market and deepen the inequality in our modern-day society, restraining a sustainable and lasting industry. 

In conclusion, lithium holds a pivotal and yet problematic role in the global shift to sustainable energy. Its distinct electrochemical characteristics make it essential for technological development, with definite scientific and environmental benefits on a comprehensive basis. Nevertheless, if we transfer these standards to a region that is already burdened by encompasses and struggles in the environment, the extraction methods needed may put it farther over the edge, resulting in a strained ecological status. Although, new techniques have been put forward, such as direct lithium extraction (DLE) uses selective membrane or sorbents to lever lithium from brine without massive evaporation, conceded as reduction in water loss and contaminates. On a monetary scale, buyers could recycle lithium containing products, helping stabilize supply chains, and avoid at best price spirals. So, here we are presented with a fundamental conundrum: Do we trade our search for greener technology for a secure environment, or vice versa? 

Bibliography: 

Earthworks. Brine Lithium Extraction and Its Environmental Impacts. Earthworks, 2023, www.earthworks.org/issues/lithium/. 

International Energy Agency (IEA). The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions. IEA, 2023, www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions. 

Jennifer L. “Understanding Lithium Prices: Past, Present, and Future.” CarbonCredits.com, 29 May 2024, https://carboncredits.com/understanding-lithium-prices-past-present-and-future/. 

Quintanilla, Víctor, David Cañas, and Javier Oviedo. “Why Is Lithium Mining in Andean Salt Flats Also Called Water Mining?” Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), 27 Mar. 2025, aida-americas.org/en/blog/why-lithium-mining-andean-salt-flats-also-called-water-mining.