Although lithium is necessary to increase the amount of electric vehicles on the roads, and other aspects of the energy transition, lithium production itself takes a sizeable toll on the environment. From its current main source, hard rock mines, lithium production generates around * kilograms of carbon dioxide, and uses about *** cubic meters of water per metric ton of lithium produced. It also scars the landscape. A new source with a much lower footprint, geothermal brine, is a method with a considerably lower environmental impact than conventional sources.
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BBC. (November 25, 2020). Environmental footprint of lithium production as of 2020, by mineral source [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 24, 2026, from /statistics/702167/environmental-footprint-lithium-production-by-mineral-source/
BBC. "Environmental footprint of lithium production as of 2020, by mineral source." Chart. November 25, 2020. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 24, 2026. /statistics/702167/environmental-footprint-lithium-production-by-mineral-source/
BBC. (2020). Environmental footprint of lithium production as of 2020, by mineral source. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 24, 2026. /statistics/702167/environmental-footprint-lithium-production-by-mineral-source/
BBC. "Environmental Footprint of Lithium Production as of 2020, by Mineral Source." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 25 Nov 2020, /statistics/702167/environmental-footprint-lithium-production-by-mineral-source/
BBC, Environmental footprint of lithium production as of 2020, by mineral source ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/702167/environmental-footprint-lithium-production-by-mineral-source/ (last visited July 24, 2026)
Environmental footprint of lithium production as of 2020, by mineral source [Graph], BBC, November 25, 2020. [Online]. Available: /statistics/702167/environmental-footprint-lithium-production-by-mineral-source/