Energy transition minerals drive deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa's tropical forests
Original framing: “Mining triggers extensive additional deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa” — Nature
Scientific studies confirm that mining for cobalt and other minerals leads to significant biodiversity loss and soil degradation. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the long-term ecological and social impacts of these mining operations in sub-Saharan Africa.
The deforestation caused by mining for energy transition minerals in sub-Saharan Africa is not an inevitable outcome but a systemic failure rooted in global supply chains, corporate interests, and historical patterns of extraction.
By integrating Indigenous knowledge, enforcing environmental and labor standards, and promoting circular economy models, it is possible to align the energy transition with ecological and social justice. Cross-cultural insights from Latin America and Southeast Asia demonstrate that community-led governance can offer sustainable alternatives. The trickster lens reveals the absurdity of a 'green' transition built on ecological destruction, urging a reimagining of development that values regeneration over extraction.